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100% WOMAN

Director: Karen Duthie | Canada | 2004 | 59 min

Recommended for grades 8 and up

Themes: Empathy, Social Justice, Acceptance, Competitive Sports, Gender

Canadian downhill mountain bike champion Michelle Dumaresq has been shaking up the world of sports. But it's not her riding talent that's sparked controversy and international media attention - it's the fact that for the first 20 years of her life Michelle was Michael.

This documentary is an adrenaline-fueled ride-along on Michelle's controversial foray into international women's competition. Combining verité scenes, interviews, home movies and dynamic footage of some of the best mountain bikers in the world, we follow Michelle from her first local race, to the World Championships where she makes history as the first transgendered athlete on a national team, to the glare of the media spotlight.

33-year old Michelle is witty, charming and confident as she faces active protest from the other racers - some of whom she once considered friends. While some of her opponents merely question her right to compete, others challenge her very identity as a woman. As Michelle struggles for acceptance - as an athlete and a woman - we're forced to ask questions ourselves, not just about fairness in sport, but also about the nature and definition of gender. Winner of the Edith Lando Peace Prize, Reel 2 Real 2005, for the film that "best conveys the values of empathy, non-violence, inclusion and respect."

http://www.100percentwoman.com/

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