IN THE TURN follows Crystal, a 10-year-old transgender girl growing up in rural Canada, as she navigates the difficult and complicated world that surrounds her. Tormented at school by teachers and peers alike, she faces daily assaults in the form of insults and physical altercations. The pain she endures at school takes a toll on not only her self-esteem, but also on the emotional stability of her family.
The film documents Crystal’s journey as she and her family struggle against the challenges of prejudice, hatred and ignorance. After being denied the right to join local athletics teams due to her gender, Crystal and her mom serendipitously discover the Vagine Regime, an international queer collective of roller derby players comprised of people of all shapes, sizes, backgrounds and identities. The Vagine Regime not only accepts Crystal, but actively supports her journey. Crystal emerges from exclusion into empowerment: she steps out of the shadows and onto the track.
IN THE TURN weaves Crystal’s story into the broader narrative of the evolution of roller derby from a niche sport into a social movement with strong roots in the LGBTQ community. Crystal’s story finds its place among the journeys of other queer skaters whose stories we film across the United States — from LA and San Francisco to Austin, Brooklyn and Minneapolis. Crystal adds her profile to the mosaic of other transgender, lesbian, and queer roller derby skaters who have found acceptance and empowerment in the Vagine Regime.
IN THE TURN will be introduced by Dr. Lorain Marsan, a visiting assistant professor: women’s, gender and sexuality studies, and following the film there will be a talkback with Director Erica Tremblay.
Erica Tremblay is an award- winning filmmaker based in Boston where she works as a producer for the creative agency Digitas. She is the co-founder of Homespun Pictures and her films have been featured on PBS and the Independent Film Channel. In 2012, she received the Emerging Filmmaker award at the Kansas City Film Festival for her documentary HEARTLAND. Erica is enjoying her 9th season of roller derby with the Boston Derby Dames
This screening is part of the Athena’s SPOTLIGHT ON DOCUMENTARY SERIES and sponsored by the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, Film Division, Media Arts department, Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, the Women’s Center, and Athens Ohio Roller Derby, in collaboration with the LGBT Center’s Queer Studies Conference.
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92 MIN
