Orchids, My Intersex Adventure

Orchids, My Intersex Adventure^[1] is an auto-biographical^[2] 2010 documentary about one woman's struggle to understand her own intersex condition against the backdrop interviewing other intersex people. Director Phoebe Hart used digital cameras and a small crew while on a road trip of self-discovery through various areas of Australia, recording some personal struggles disclosed to her by the other intersex individuals. The film won the ATOM Award for Best Documentary General.^[3]

Hart completed her film studies at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in 1995.^[4] She has been involved in the children’s programme Totally Wild, Network Ten’s documentary unit, and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Race Around the World and Fly TV. She co-directed a documentary series called Downunder Grads on the condition of Australian higher education for the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), screened in March 2008.^[4]

Hart also directed and co-wrote the Australian Broadcasting Corporation documentary Roller Derby Dolls about a group of women who play in roller derby.^[4] Roller Derby Dolls screened in a prime-time slot, 9 September 2008.^[5]

In 2009 Hart was awarded her doctorate from Queensland University of Technology, of which Orchids was a central element of her doctoral studies.^[4] This documentary took six years for principal documenters (sisters Phoebe and Bonnie Hart) to film, using a variety of cameras including semi-professional digital cameras, domestic VHS camcorders, and Super 8.^[6]

Childhood and adolescence

Hart was told she would never menstruate nor have children, but the reasons were not discussed and the topic was taboo. Initially, her parents refused to be filmed at all.^[6]

When Hart was 17 years of age, her mother told her the family secret, that Hart had testes in her abdomen. Hart was pressured into an invasive surgery to remove her undescended testes, and in the documentary she faces the traumatic emotional scars from that operation.^[6]

Personal impact

Hart embarked on a road trip around Australia in an effort to hear the stories of other intersex people for the purpose of self-reflection. This self-reflection engendered her resilience and emotional healing, but she realised that she cannot escape the pervasive impact her condition had on all her relationships.^[2] Hart and her husband James desired to start a family but her infertility and the stress of the adoption process strained their marriage. She began to understand the scope of difficulties her parents faced when they made decisions on her behalf.

This turning point in her personal development convinced her parents to be interviewed. Hart was excited but apprehensive, and wondered whether talking openly with her mother would give her the answers she had long sought.^[6]

Phoebe lives with her husband and cat, and enjoys gardening and Bollywood dancing in her spare time.^[4] Hart is principal of hartflicker, an Australian-based video and film production company.^[2]

References

1. ^ Hart, Phoebe "Orchids, My Intersex Adventure", 03 October 2010. Retrieved on 26 October 2010
2. ^ ^{a b c} ATOM Award description "First Hand Films", Interview with Phoebe Hart, Melbourne, Australia. Retrieved on 26 October 2010
3. ^ *ATOM Award, Winners, 2010. "ATOM Award Winners, 2010", ATOM Awards 2010, Retrieved on 25 October 2010.
4. ^ ^{a b c d e} Queensland Government, Office for Women "Government biography of Phoebe Hart", 14 April 2009, Retrieved 26 October 2010
5. ^ Australia Broadcasting Company's Roller Derby Dolls, Documentary "Telly Guide Synopsis", 01 September 2009, Retrieved on 25 October 2010
6. ^ ^{a b c d} *Orchids, My Intersex Adventure -Synopsis "Film Synopsis", 03 October 2010. Retrieved on 26 October 2010

External links

• Orchids, My Intersex Adventure at the Internet Movie Database