Orlando, ma biographie politique

Orlando, My Political Biography

Paul B. Preciado
France | 2023 | 98 min
Swiss Premiere
Language : French
Subtitle : English

Almost a century after the publication of Virginia Woolf’s legendary novel Orlando, trans philosopher and activist Paul B. Preciado writes a letter to its author. This radical, punk and poetic political manifesto engages in a dialogue with Woolf’s prophetic novel. Supported by a flamboyant cast of trans actors, Preciado takes his camera to meet the Orlandos of the 21st century.

In 1928, Virginia Woolf published Orlando, a visionary tale following the life of an androgynous, defiantly anti-patriarcal character who mysteriously changes gender. In his first film, philosopher Paul B. Preciado (Testo Junkie, Un appartement sur Uranus), decides to write the author a letter, establishing a fruitful dialogue with this legendary work of literature. Orlando, ma biographie politique draws on the premonitory power of Virginia Woolf’s text whilst proposing a modern interpretation of her story: who are the Orlandos of the 21st century? A parade of Orlandos ensues, embodied by a flamboyant cast of young trans actors - alongside Pierre & Gilles and Virgine Despentes in supporting roles - emancipated in their subversive and joyful state of impermanence. Paul B. Preciado shows us a world in perpetual mutation, and predicts a revolution that will lead to the disappearance of all gendered identities. In this film, of course, he continues his philosophical and militant work, compensating for the invisibilisation of trans people and their struggles, thanks to the power of images and direction. This radical, anti-conformist and resolutely punk film is, quite simply, unforgettable.

Bastien Bento

Orlando, ma biographie politique, 2023