This Weekend on Docunight
Gracefully
In a country where queerness cannot be discussed openly, Arash Eshaghi’s Gracefully (2019) masterfully explores the trans experience and gender performance. Eshaghi uses the special medium of documentary as a means for change, commenting on the fact that, in Iran, it is almost impossible to talk about gender and the topics surrounding it.
The film captures one individual’s continued pursuit of happiness through dancing. The main character, whose name is not revealed, performs a traditional feminine dance in the alley behind his home. He has danced in the guise of a woman almost his entire life. His dialogue conveys his passion for dance and feels utterly spontaneous, expressive, and free-floating.
WATCH HERE: