DocPoint – Helsinki Documentary Festival

Gabi, Between Ages 8 and 13

Expired February 5, 2023 9:59 PM
Already unlocked? for access
Protected ContentThis content can only be viewed in authorized regions: Finland, Åland Islands.

Engeli Brobergin kiehtova dokumenttielokuva Gabi, Between Ages 8 and 13 seuraa viiden vuoden ajan sympaattisen Gabin matkaa läpi lapsuuden ja varhaisteiniyden. Viisi vuotta on lapselle pitkä aika, ja moni asia ehtiikin muuttua merkittävästi. Perhe muuttaa Tukholmasta pikkukaupunkiin, Gabi saa kaksi pikkusisarta, ja biologinen isä on aina vain kateissa.


Kasvaminen on transformatiivinen ja pelottava kokemus. Se tuo mukanaan muutoksia niin kehoon, tunteisiin kuin identiteettiinkin. Ne tuntuvat pelottavilta etenkin Gabille, jolle yhteiskunnan antamat sukupuolen lokerot ovat liian ahtaita.


“Ystäväni sanoi, että on olemassa poikien ja tyttöjen juttuja. Ei ole!” kahdeksanvuotias Gabi kertoo pontevasti heti elokuvan alussa. Gabi ilmaisee rohkeasti kantansa yhteiskunnan asettamiin binäärisiin sukupuolirooleihin läpi elokuvan, vaikka ajoittain ulkopuolisuuden tunne tuntuukin lannistavalta. Onneksi on myös ystäviä.


-----------


Engeli Broberg’s captivating coming-of-age documentary records the formative years of a child who does not comfortably identify as female or male. Gabi, Between Ages 8 and 13 offers an intimate portrait of the child’s attempt to just be herself through changing family circumstances and the challenges of everyday living.


– – There is an obvious echo of Richard Linklater’s Boyhood in Gabi, as we witness a child grow before our eyes over a five-year period. Gabi has the feel of both documentary and drama as we are drawn into the story of this individual and her family through intimate observation and a feel for the revolving seasons and annual celebrations.


– – Gabi, Between Ages 8 and 13 offers a personal insight into a range of issues around gender, identity and belonging. Under close scrutiny, Gabi emerges as a smart, sympathetic and wholly engaging presence facing a future in which you can only endorse her own wish to continuing being true to herself.


Allan Hunter, Screen Daily


The filmmaker lets the viewer grow up with Gabi and teaches us lessons about what it means to be human. – – It deals with sensitive subjects in the nonchalant way children do: they just acknowledge what is, maybe ponder on it for a minute, before getting on with being alive. The beauty of the cinematography, the intelligent editing and the sensitive soundtrack all pay tribute to Gabi’s persona, her strength, vulnerability and authenticity.


Nicole Santé, Business Doc Europe


  • Year
    2021
  • Runtime
    76 minutes
  • Language
    English
  • Country
    Sweden
  • Rating
    S
  • Note
    Englanninkieliset tekstitykset / English subtitles
  • Director
    Engeli Broberg
  • Screenwriter
    Engeli Broberg
  • Producer
    Anna J. Ljungmark, Jacob Eklund
  • Cinematographer
    Tommy Olsson
  • Editor
    Kalle Lindberg, Engeli Broberg
  • Composer
    Sofia Hallgren, Kjetil Schjander Luhr
  • Sound Design
    Anna Burel Nilsson