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“Feminist Review” of Su Friedrich’s Hide
and Seek
Review by Diana Tierne, May 2007
Hide and Seek is a brilliant movie that explores the real life stories
of lesbians' self actualization of who they are during their childhood
interwoven with the story of one little girl who - though on the
outside she is just like the rest of the girls in her class - she
knows that there is something fundamentally different about her.
There is also some very interesting footage of very old 1950s-style
biology documentaries on homosexuality.
Are we a product of our genetics or are we a product of our environment?
This is the question that is debated amongst many leading psychologists
and sociologists. Friedrich’s answer to this question is that
it is a matter of genetics, using actual accounts of how women at
young ages found themselves attracted to those of the same sex and
always knew there was something different. Friedrich puts a face
to the debate. These are not just statistics or abstract labels;
these are actual people with feelings and life experiences.
The movie also gives some insight into this world for those of
us who are not homosexual and allows us to connect with our lesbian
kin at a very feminine level. Through those very fragile pre-teen
and post-pubescent female years, many experiences are shared: the
same the games, the social struggles and the desire to feel comfortable
in our own skin.
I highly recommend this film to anyone who has struggled with
their identity, and to family members of those who have recently
“come out.” This movie is a valuable tool in breaking
down the negativity that has plagued the lesbian community.
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