“I strongly believe that we are neither men nor women. We are just living bodies.”
Paul B. Preciado
What does it mean to “be yourself”? Who can answer the question “who am I?” without wavering, without hesitation? When asked to “define” ourselves it’s tempting to fall back on the rigid and preconceived identities which we have been (either implicitly or explicitly) encouraged to conform to. We emphasise our personalities, our lifestyles and our habits: stable traits which therefore allow others to identify us. But, shouldn’t we only truly conform to ourselves? Being yourself isn’t actually a question of identity, but one of personal truth. Being yourself isn’t a fact, it’s an adventure, an experience made up of doubt and accomplishments, a deeply human experience. Being human means being a living body on a constant and tireless quest for its own truth.
SOMOS gives voice to 13 youngsters aged nine to twenty-seven who are deconstructing standards and affirming their identities.
They are trans, non-binary, or gender creative and are speaking up in order to share their experiences and feelings about their identity. Their sharp and honest words are hard-hitting. SOMOS extends an invitation to listen to voices that are too often silenced, and to realise how beautiful becoming oneself can be.
By creating a space of trust and listening, Laura Krsmanovic and Lydie Nesvadba were able to accompany the participants in the process of creating a film that is radiant, authentic, and full of life.
SOMOS is a visual podcast and part of the ISOLA series, created in collaboration with Transkids.
Credits :
Direction and sound recording: Laura Krsmanovic
Image direction: Lydie Nesvadba
Video editing: Liyo Gong
Music and sound design: Le Motel
Mixing: Christophe Loerke
Teaser: Antoine De Schuyter
Colorist: Maxime Tellier
Illustration: Julie Hoyas
Copywriting: Simon Brunfaut
Translation and subtitling: Blurbs.be
With the support of:
