Straightlaced - How Gender's Got Us All Tied Up

In her acclaimed films It's Elementary and It's Still Elementary (LLGFF 2008), Academy Award-winning documentarian Debra Chasnoff explored the discussion of homosexuality in US elementary schools. With Straightlaced, Chasnoff has spoken exclusively to teenage high school students about their feelings on gender stereotypes and the roles adolescents are expected to play in their formative years. Aimed primarliy at younger audiences, the film is an engaging and thought-provoking experience, in which over 50 teenagers of various sexualities and ethnic backgrounds voice their opinions and share their fears. From discussions about the clothes they wear, to issues of bullying and violence, the film aims to create a much-needed dialogue amongst youth audiences, asking its viewers to question the stifling restraints of the binary gender system. In highlighting the sexual pressures that young people face everyday, Chasnoff has created a work of huge importance, that is both challenging and accessible.
Michael Blyth