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.[2] It was selected in Encounter at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, where it had its world premiere on 18 February 2023.[3] The film was also nominated for Berlinale Documentary Film Award,[4] and won the Teddy Award for the Best Documentary Film.[5]
Content
Blurring the lines between reality and fiction, Preciado 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. Preciado organized a casting and brought together 26 contemporary trans and non-binary people to each play Orlando. Preciado reconstructs the stages of his personal transformation through authentic voices, writings, 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 emphasizes that "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."[6][7]
On 2 February 2023 it was reported that Paris-based sales company The Party Film Sales has acquired world rights of the film.[9] 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.[10] It was invited to Horizons section of 57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where it was screened on 30 June 2023.[11] The film is also invited to the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival in Wavelengths section.[12] It will also be screened at the 2023 Atlantic International Film Festival in Documentaries section on 16 September 2023.[13] The film also made it to 'Zabaltegi-Tabakalera' section of the 71st San Sebastián International Film Festival and screened on 23 September 2023.[14][15]
On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes website, the film has an approval rating of 94% based on 50 reviews, with an average rating of 7.3/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "A playful documentary with a poetic spirit, Orlando, My Political Biography uses a seminal novel as the framework for an exploration of personal identity"[20]
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."[21] 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."[22]
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."[23]
Accolades
Orlando, My Political Biography was shortlisted for European Documentary award in the 36th European Film Awards, but it was not nominated in the nominations announced on 7 November.[24] The awards ceremony took place on 9 December in Berlin.[25]
