At the end of Maya Gallus’
documentary Girl Inside, the interview subject
of the film, Madison Kelly tells the audience
that she is looking forward to a quiet life.
Looks like that isn’t going
to happen.
Since its premiere in Toronto,
the 2007 documentary which puts a transgender
in the spotlight has been broadcast on several
gay and lesbian television networks in Canada.
After winning the Gemini Award for Best Direction
for a Documentary Program last year, it is having
its Asian premiere at the 22nd Singapore International
Film Festival. And this is the furthest the documentary’s
protagonist, Kelly has travelled in her life.
In Singapore to promote the documentary
last weekend, she tells movieXclusive.com candidly:
“I didn’t know the film will take
me this far. And I must say being in Singapore
is overwhelming in a good way.”
Kelly underwent a three year
transformative journey which sees her transiting
from a man to a woman. The 70 minute documentary
chronicles this process and the result is a heartwarming
and sometimes funny film which has been receiving
critical acclaim.
Comfortably seated at a café
in National Museum of Singapore, Kelly recalls:
“I had no idea what I was getting into when
I said yes to the director. I thought it was going
to be a small project.”
One can expect things to be difficult
for Kelly to become a “he” to a “she”
over the three years. Not only were things challenging
spiritually, emotionally, physically and sexually,
one major factor that added to the stress was
having the camera recording every step of this
transformation.
“Easy is definitely not
a word to be used,” states Kelly matter
of factly.
“But I’m thankful
that the filmmakers realised how important to
be respectful of boundaries, what I was okay with
telling and what I wasn’t comfortable with
saying.”
In the limelight are also Kelly’s
family members, and that was something she had
reservations initially.
“The most difficult thing
about making this movie is exposing my family
to the public eye. But I’m extremely lucky
to have a family who was willing to come along
for the ride.
“They have never hesitated
in supporting me,” she continues.
 Kelly
remembers how each of her family member reacted
to being part of the documentary. She laughs:
“My sister’s immediate concern was
who was going to be the bridegroom at her wedding.”
Kelly’s grandmother, Vivien
Parkhill, was given quite a bit of screen time
in the film.
“She is a very curious
person. Her fundamental questions and statements
were straightforward, and that comes out in a
humourous way.”
She also thinks that her brother
and father provided the much needed entertainment
in the documentary: “Every time there was
tension in the show, you can expect to see my
brother and father appearing to break it something
funny.”
Being part of the this film has
given Kelly new insights about life. Beyond the
film, she hopes to live outside Canada and see
the world. She has learnt not to have too many
expectations when it comes to living her life:
“I’ve kind of given up on planning,
and am going with the flow with what happens next.”
The articulate Kelly also tells
us that she hope to move to Japan to live there
for a few years.
“I want to travel outside
Canada. I don’t want to be at the same place
for my whole life.”
Speaking with pride and confidence,
Kelly hopes that audiences will walk away from
the film with certain takeaways, and that’s
regardless of the nationalities of the viewers.
“It’s
okay not to understand or be concerned about socially
weird people like us. What’s important here
is how you show support.”
”
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By John Li |
