Across the world, and particularly in Australia, great advances have been made to secure all forms of social equality, yet these issues still exist. In this fight, we have a new warrior: a young female by the name of Natalie Hua, and her short documentary-style film, Beyond Gender.
Featuring a talented crew, Beyond Gender is a must-watch for anyone who believes in the power of authenticity and breaking down societal barriers. It’s a powerful short film that explores the beauty of living beyond societal labels and expectations.
Emily Bochno is a 22-year-old model and cast from Bankstown. She is quoted in the film, “if I walked into a room right now, me looking like this, and I said I want to start a business I would get a few turning heads like, “what is she up too?” They wouldn’t see past what I look like.”
In this thought-provoking and emotional journey, the stories of five individuals who have broken free from gender stereotypes and discovered their true selves are followed. The film aims to inspire and empower others to live beyond limitations and embrace their authentic selves, celebrating diversity, inclusion, and gender equality.
Sanskriti Baxi, who also appears in the film, states, “I had a lot of pressure to be just the right amount of feminine, so not too feminine, not too less feminine, the perfect balance of how do I be the right kind of girl”, whilst Fred Drici summarised the purpose of the film by adding, “just accepting people – I think that is something that everyone can do a little bit more of.”
Keeping News Local had the pleasure of speaking with Hua about her production, Beyond Gender, and the local cast and crew from Sydney.
KNL: How would you describe your film?
NH: Beyond Gender is a documentary film exploring the impact of societal labels and gender norms on individuals, and the liberation that comes with living beyond those limitations.
KNL: What inspired you decide to make this film?
NH: As someone who has personally pushed my way forward in male-dominated spaces, I understand the importance of breaking down barriers and embracing individuality. With Beyond Gender, we hope to inspire others to do the same and live beyond societal limitations. I wanted to create a platform for these voices to be heard and to inspire others to live beyond the constraints of gender and societal expectations.
KNL: We’ve noticed that your film explores themes past gender-related inequality, such as racial and cultural issues as well. Can you explain the relevance of this?
NH: The film’s original release date was planned to coincide with Women’s History Month, but as we delved deeper into the stories of individuals struggling with societal labels and gender norms, we realised that the message of the film extended far beyond just the experiences of women.
KNL: What do you hope to achieve through creating this short film?
NH: I hope that Beyond Gender will serve as a reminder that we are all capable of breaking down barriers and living our truest selves, regardless of societal expectations or gender norms.
You can watch Beyond Gender below