Orlando, My Political Biography

Orlando, My Political Biography (French: Orlando, ma biographie politique) is a 2023 French documentary film directed by Paul B. Preciado. Preciado organizes a casting and brings together 26 contemporary trans and non-binary people, aged 8 to 70, to bring out Orlando of Virginia Woolf's 1928 novel Orlando: A Biography.[1] It was selected in Encounter at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, where it had its world premiere on 18 February 2023.[2] The film was also nominated for Berlinale Documentary Film Award,[3] and won the Teddy Award for the Best Documentary Film.[4]

Orlando, My Political Biography
Official poster
Directed byPaul B. Preciado
Screenplay byPaul B. Preciado
Produced by
  • Yaël Fogiel
  • Laetitia Gonzalez
  • Annie Ohayon-Dekel
  • Farid Rezkhallah
Starring
  • Oscar (Rosza) S Miller
  • Janis Sahraoui
  • Liz Christin
  • Elios Levy
  • Victor Marzouk
CinematographyVictor Zebo
Edited byYotam Ben David
Music byClara Deshayes
Production
companies
Distributed byThe Party Film Sales
Release date
Running time
98 minutes
CountryFrance
LanguageFrench

Content of the film

The film blurs the lines between reality and fiction. The director expands Virginia Woolf's novel Orlando: A Biography, in which the main character changes gender midway through the story to become a 36-year-old woman. He organizes a casting and brings together 26 contemporary trans and non-binary people, aged 8 to 70, to play Orlando. Preciado reconstructs the stages of his personal transformation through authentic voices, writings, theory and images, in the search of the truth. "Every Orlando", he says, "is a transgender person who is risking his, her or their life on a daily basis as they find themselves forced to confront government laws, history and psychiatry, as well as traditional notions of the family and the power of multinational pharmaceutical companies." The film emphasis, "if 'male' and 'female' are ultimately political and social fictions, then that change is no longer just about gender, but also about poetry, love and skin colour."[5][6]

Cast
  • Oscar (Rosza) S Miller (Orlando)
  • Janis Sahraoui (Orlando)
  • Liz Christin (Orlando)
  • Elios Levy (Orlando)
  • Victor Marzouk (Orlando)
  • Paul B. Preciado (Orlando)
  • Kori Ceballos (Orlando)
  • Vanasay Khamphommala (Orlando)
  • Ruben Rizza (Orlando)
  • Julia Postollec (Orlando)
  • Amir Baylly (Orlando)
  • Naëlle Dariya (Orlando)
  • Jenny Bel’Air (Orlando)
  • Emma Avena (Orlando)
  • Lillie (Orlando)
  • Arthur (Orlando)
  • Eleonore (Orlando)
  • La Bourette (Orlando)
  • Noam Iroual (Orlando)
  • Iris Crosnier (Orlando)
  • Clara Deshayes (Orlando)
  • Castiel Emery (Sasha)
  • Fréderic Pierrot (Psychiatrist)
  • Nathan Callot (Armory Salesman)
  • Pierre et Gilles (Doctors)
  • Tristana Gray Martyr (Goddess of Hormones)
  • Le Filip (Goddess of Gender Fucking)
  • Miss Drinks (Goddess of Insurrection)
  • Tom Dekel (Receptionist)
  • Virginie Despentes (Judge)
  • Rilke & Pompom (Orlando's Dogs)

Release

it had its world premiere on 18 February 2023 in Encounter at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival.[7]

On 2 February 2023 it was reported that Paris-based sales company The Party Film Sales has acquired world rights of the film.[8] On 7 March 2023, it was reported that Sideshow and Janus Films bought the right of the film for North America. They are planning a theatrical release after screening of the film at high-profile festivals in North America.[9]

Reception

Fabien Lemercier reviewing for Cineuropa praised the film and wrote, "I can say is that the hair-raising, super-inventive, intelligent and funny film doesn’t disappoint." Appreciating the director Preciado's creativity Lemercier stated, "he extrapolates Virginia Woolf’s tale with intellectual agility and cinematographic creativity and ultimately offering up an artisanal, philosophical, modern, and highly appealing vehicle for his activism."[10] Laura Venning rated the film 4 out of 5 and wrote, "Paul B. Preciado's metatextual grappling with Virginia Woolf's novel is a playful and moving exploration of gender identity." Venning closing her review opined thar the film is "rightfully destined to become an enduring piece of trans filmmaking."[11] Redmond Bacon of Journey Into Cinema reviewing the film praised the film in general though Bacon felt it was a little stagey and repetitive in parts. Concluding his review Bacon wrote, "the final thesis is undeniably moving, ... this excellent film shows the power of imagination to potentially change the world."[12]

Accolades
Award Date Category Recipient Result Ref.
Berlin International Film Festival 25 February 2023 Golden Bear Plaque Orlando, My Political Biography Nominated [13]
Berlinale Documentary Film Award Nominated [3][14]
Teddy Award for Best Documentary Film Won [4]
Tagesspiegel Reader’s Jury Award Won [15]
Encounter: Special Jury Award Won [16]

References
  1. "Orlando, ma biographie politique" [Orlando, My Political Biography]. Fish Films (in French). 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  2. Ntim, Zac (23 January 2023). "Berlin Film Festival: Sean Penn, Philippe Garrel, Margarethe Von Trotta & Christian Petzold In Competition — Full List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  3. "Films nominated for the Berlinale Documentary Film Award". Berlinale. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  4. Roxborough, Scott (25 February 2023). "Berlin: Teddy Award for Nigerian Drama 'All The Colors in the World Are Between Black and White'". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  5. Lemercier, Fabien (9 February 2023). "The Party Film Sales to sell Orlando, My Political Biography in Berlin". Cineuropa. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  6. "Orlando, ma biographie politique" [Orlando, My Political Biography]. Crew United (in German). 9 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  7. Preciado, Paul B. (26 January 2023). "Orlando, My Political Biography". Cineuropa. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  8. Leffler, Rebecca (2 February 2023). "The Party boards Berlinale title 'Orlando, My Political Biography'; unveils trailer (exclusive)". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  9. Elsa Keslassy, Elsa (7 March 2023). "Sideshow, Janus Films Buy North American Rights to Berlinale Prizewinning 'Orlando, My Political Biography' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  10. Lemercier, Fabien (18 February 2023). "Berlinale 2023 Encounter:Review: Orlando, My Political Biography". Cineuropa. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  11. Venning, Laura (18 February 2023). "Berlin 2023: Orlando, My Political Biography review – destined to become an enduring piece of trans filmmaking". We Love Cinema. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  12. Bacon, Redmond (18 February 2023). "Travel into The Trans Imagination with Orlando: My Political Biography". Journey Into Cinema. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  13. Ramachandran, Naman; Vivarelli, Nick (23 January 2023). "Berlin Film Festival Reveals Competition Lineup (Updating Live)". Variety. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  14. Nikkhah Azad, Navid (2 February 2023). "Berlinale Documentary Award Jury 2023". Deed News. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  15. Roxborough, Scott (25 February 2023). "Berlin: '20,000 Species of Bees,' 'Totem' Among Independent Jury Winners". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  16. Scott Roxborough (25 February 2023). "Berlin: French Documentary 'On the Adamant' Wins Golden Bear for Best Film". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
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