Virginia Woolf’s Orlando (1928) remains one of the seminal literary works of the twentieth century. One of the first of its kind, it has been analyzed and adapted multiple times, but writer-philosopher Paul B. Preciado’s Orlando, My Political Biography (2023), is perhaps the deepest and most intuitive one of all, while also showcasing what it truly means to be human.
Buy Orlando, My Political Biography Blu-rayGathering a spirited group of 26 trans and non-binary individuals from different walks of life, Preciado casts them as different versions of Woolf’s famous androgynous hero(ine), while also allowing them to form their own interpretations of the novel and using it as reference to tell their own stories of transition and gender complexity.
The result is a freeing and non-judgmental portrait (as well as a revealing film essay) about humanity, as well as the triumphs of trans people living their truth, and the unfortunate hardships of living in a world that doesn’t always recognize them as the fully realized human beings they really are.
You don’t have to be trans, non-binary, or queer to enjoy this film. You just have an open mind and are not willing to be a jackass and just let people be themselves.
Supplements consist of a new interview with Preciado, and trailer.
