And I have a lot to say about Girl, which is a dangerous movie. For starters, the film was from a cisgender filmmaker who chose to cast another cisgender male actor in the role of a transgender female. I love the girls, but hate that they are offending my religion. However, she used derogatory slang to describe Mexicans, which is said to be extremely offensive as she was doing the task. But this world isn’t perfect and because I’m transgender, people turn to film critics such as me to hear what I have to say about movies like this. Being transgender should not be something that comes off as a prop. On May 17, fans got furious after OH MY GIRL allegedly fat-shamed their senior idol, Super Junior's Shindong, and at the same time, for showing racist gestures. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Don’t cancel, educate! Shortly after the film premiered, Netflix acquired the film, which is directed by Belgian filmmaker Lukas Dhont. Actor Victor Polster, the cisgender man playing a transgender character, took home the Best Actor Prize for Un Certain Regard. Any cisgender person claiming to be a trans ally would definitely not take the role of a trans actor. Being transgender should not be something that comes off as a prop. I’m based in Chicago and going into early December, it seems highly doubtful that I’ll get an awards screener for, Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society nominated. This is smart advice from Richards. The actress was promoting Easy Living when I asked her advice regarding writing a screenplay with a transgender woman in a leading role. And I think the way to prevent this from even coming up is to have trans people around. Rapper Swings Looking More & More Like Actor Park SeoJun. Although very few trans critics have had a chance to see the film (more on that in a moment), all of them have noted the same thing: This is one of the core problems that come with cisgender filmmakers making a film about transgender subjects. K-Pop girl group Oh My Girl have recently been caught up in yet another cultural appropriation controversy. Logo Concept by: Illumination Ink. The basic controversy around Girl is summed up quite well by … When Girl, a film about a transgender woman who aspires to be a ballerina, premiered this past May at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, it did so to a great deal of debate in the transgender community. In the broadcast, Seunghee imitated a CF. (After this article was submitted, Girl received a Golden Globes nomination.). We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. She has never intended any kind of racism," apologizing as well for fans who were disappointed due to idol's act. In a perfect world, my being a transgender woman would not be the thing that defines me. Web design by Pro Blog Design. In addition to this, SBS KPOP's YouTube Channel also released their statement, saying, "But we've got to know this video can be hurtful towards some people, especially to international fans and to 'Miracles' (fandom name of OH MY GIRL). Richards’ response: “Make sure the character would be just as compelling if the audience never knew they were trans. This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages. And I have a lot to say about Girl, which is a dangerous movie. © Copyright 2017 KpopStarz.com. In the same episode, Hyojung allegedly fat-shamed Super Junior's Shindong, which is not only the host of the show but also their senior idol. The Transgender Drama ‘Girl’ is Earning Awards Season Buzz – Here’s Why It’s Infuriating Trans Critics. — and in four unnecessarily gory moments, she rips tape from her genitals after tucking her genitals during ballet. A transgender filmmaker wouldn’t obsess about genitalia in a film in which a trans person is the lead. In several interviews, Dhont says that he wants to have a conversation with the transgender community. Girl is not the only foreign film that Netflix is campaigning for awards (the streaming giant is also heavily pushing Roma), but Girl is not included in their mailings to critics. As many netizens were hurt due to the female idol's gestures, the clip was re-edited, and the scene where she used derogatory gestures and words was deleted. If this film is nominated at the Oscars, it will be a slap in the face to the transgender community. What could have been a thoughtful exploration of a difficult part of a trans girl’s daily life instead uses her body as a site of trauma, inviting the audience to react with disgust. How Things Look ATM. This isn’t the only problem. Dhont would know that transitioning is a marathon, not a sprint. This time around, fans have taken up an issue with the girl group's styling during their KCON:TACT 2020 SUMMER performance. Premiering on May 16, OH MY GIRL had their comeback interview along with the male idol, and they also participated in various activities as the episode's special guests. The key one being that by casting cisgender actors — let alone focusing so much on the genitalia — he’s reinforcing the negative stereotype that transgender women are men. This is smart advice from Richards. It has lots of religious meaning to it. And, is what’s wrong with most projects that claim to represent the experiences of trans people with no substantive participation of trans voices. Due to these, fans are demanding an apology from OH MY GIRL, not only to Shindong but as well as to the Latinos and Mexicans that were offended to the "racist" act that Seunghee did. Many of the writers and critics who should have something to say about this movie are being denied the opportunity. By saying no to a film like Girl, the rest of the world may finally get the message that the days of casting cisgender actors in transgender roles are over. Netizens are debating a recent controversy surrounding Oh My Girl's #1 winners' speech. In addition to this, SBS KPOP's YouTube Channel also released their statement, saying. Affiliate links used when available. In the video, the group was playing a game where they have to guess words. K-Pop girl group Oh My Girl have recently been caught up in yet another cultural appropriation controversy. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society nominated Girl for one of its five best picture slots. What does it take for trans voices to be heard in the film community? You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. If Dhont had spoken to any medical professionals, he would know this! this really hurts me because i’m mexican and it upsets me that seunghee thinks of us in that way :/, hopefully seunghee and the rest of oh my girl will apologize cause it’s something that really made me feel a little bit :// as a mexican. Get to know us, listen to us.”. All names, trademarks and images are copyright their respective owners. Posted on Friday, December 7th, 2018 by Danielle Solzman. Lara painfully studies her naked body in the mirror in five scenes — was one not enough? Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. While it’s understandable that Dhont wanted to tell this dancer’s story, did he ever stop to think about the harmful consequences of casting a cisgender actor? Lara is a ballerina and there should be a stronger focus on how that drives her rather than this need to harm her body because blockers aren’t helping as she starts hormones. Hopefully, we don’t have to deal with this again. This is one of the core problems that come with cisgender filmmakers making a film about transgender subjects. Trans people need to be involved in all aspects of a production. Going off of the calendar for the previous Oscars, the short-list will be announced in mid-December. And then the film started receiving a wave of festival awards, starting with the Camera d’Or for best first film and the Queer Palm (awarded to one LGBTQ film). YooA and Mimi were seen with a Bindi and Matha Patti. This past year, I was ecstatic when A Fantastic Woman was nominated and even happier that the film won Best Foreign Language Film. Upon seeing the video clip, fans and netizens that are Mexicans, have been censuring the K-pop star for being disrespectful, claiming that she's a racist or stereotyping people of the other culture. In essence, the film is another example of cisgender filmmakers making films at the expense of the transgender community and not understanding the damage they are doing. Here’s Tre’vell Anderson writing in Out Magazine: “What’s wrong with Girl is what’s wrong with most projects that claim to represent the experiences of trans people with no substantive participation of trans voices. She hasn't had much screentime, but already her revealing costume and role in a certain scene have brewed up some controversy in the anime's notorious fanbase. Lara is merely a physical specimen to gawk at, and the more her body is pitted against her — both with gender and ballet — the more the film relishes in capturing her torment.”. But because Polster is cisgender and not trans, he’s not the person who would be speaking up to say that something is wrong. A lot of it has to do with the ending — the rest of this paragraph is a huge spoiler, but it’s important to understand why people are upset — which sees Lara use a pair of scissors to cut off her genitals. This time around, fans have taken up an issue with the girl group's styling during their KCON:TACT 2020 SUMMER performance.