This Is Not Me

Available Information:

"Iran is the only country in the region to recognise trans people (any other LGBQ+ identity is banned). Both Shervin and Saman offer a glimpse into what life is like for trans youth, who despite loving and supportive parents are forced to live covert lives, shy away from their neighbours and even consider emigration, in order to be who they truly are. One of the many heartrending scenes in this documentary features one of the boys, fully clothed on the beach and yearning to go swimming, while the other shouts at his parents, asking whether his father is also forced to wear a headscarf. This is Not Me is a detailed depiction of the legal and social labyrinth that promises a slim aperture of freedom." -FilmFreeway.

"What drew me to this issue was the community's ignorance of the transgender community. Many trans people in Iran have fallen victim to traditional thinking and have been murdered or expelled from society. Unfortunately, nearly sixty percent of trans people in Iran have experienced suicide at least once due to major depression. Lack of social security and non-observance of their basic rights in families and society as a human being has created difficult conditions for them in society... My view of the subject and my insistence on narrating the reality of their lives had many difficulties, but the hope and effort for a more comfortable life for [trans people] created a double incentive... Not all the hardships and problems they experience are unbelievable and understandable [in other countries]. One of the things I really felt about making This Is Not Me was that I wanted the film to have a heartfelt narrative... I realized that I could make a film that would explicitly talk about their problems and tell the story of what is going on in the Iranian [trans community]. I wanted to make a film that would allow viewers to feel what is going on in their lives... Describe the extraordinary vitality and commitment that these people have to prove themselves as men, and envision a future for themselves... When the film is over, my hope is that the viewer will leave the hall seeing and experiencing a piece of themselves in each of our subjects. After all, are not their strength, effort, love, and hope respected alongside a loving family?" -Saeed Gholipour (director), FilmFreeway.

Note from Jack:

I am really, really eager to view this documentary, but I can’t find it anywhere.