Gender benders subvert dual gender images and refuse to be classified by the traditional categories of male and female. Each of the five protagonists in Sophie Dros’s light-footed documentary has already taken the first step out of this convention and all are about to discover their own identity outside the norm. Confronted by reactions varying between incomprehension, interest and open aversion they waver between defiance, doubt and enthusiasm about every step that follows. Finally, each of them manages to come a little closer to themselves. Even when the world around them – despite its curiosity – isn’t always ready to follow.

Sophie Dros asks Lisa, Anne, Dennis, Lashawn and Selm about their experiences and dreams and creates enough space to let their different stories unfold on the narrative and visual level. While the football-playing twins Lisa and Anne seem impressively at ease with themselves, Dennis, Selm and Lashawn have to deal with the fact that other peoples’ perception of them differs from how they perceive themselves. They share these desires and contradictions with us. “Genderblend” celebrates them and their fight for a society in which gender no longer means two juxtaposed ideals but an individual and unique construction that encompasses both.

Luc-Carolin Ziemann

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Nominated for Young Eyes Film Award