Kiezen, Snijden, Zwijgen (2024)

Sharan Bala and Marieke Schoutsen met each other through an intermediary and that introduction was liberating. Although they are both over 30, it was the first time they spoke to someone who was also intersex. That meeting gave them the courage to investigate how and why medical specialists subjected them to medical examinations and interventions at a very young age. The title is ironic: Sharan, Marieke and their parents have been deprived of the opportunity to choose. This documentary follows Sharan and Marieke during their search into their medical past and during a period in which they decide to share their secret with the outside world. Given the taboo on the subject (it is estimated that more than 1.5% are born with X and Y chromosomes), this is a commendable and courageous documentary. However, the structure is a bit messy and the design is not very exciting. Only halfway through does Marieke make it clear to friends during her coming out what intersex exactly is, and that should have been done at the beginning. Furthermore, this mainly consists of dry conversations, static and soberly filmed. It is authentic and respectful, but dramatically it is very flat, which does not sufficiently convey the impact of what these two women have gone through.

Translated from Dutch · View original