Orlando, ma biographie politique

Whole movie revolves around gender. It tells stories about transgender people, their relationship with their gender, their identities and sometimes parts of their transition stories. It shows various people - younger and older, white and BIPOC, fat and thin, with different level of passing. You can really feel inclusivity and diversity of trans and non-binary community.

These different portrayals combined tell a longer story of Virginia Woolf's Orlando and sometimes they are even creating monologue (or letter) addressed to the writer herself.

Whole movie is a meaningful voice in a discussion about gender. It critiques gender binary as a patriarchal concept. It shows different perspectives, experiences, transgressions.

The movie is not so much about sexual orientation though (which was written in a movie's summary on a cinema's webpage) if you're more interested in that topic. Although these two are deeply intertwined.

Also, I think you should have at least basic understanding of concepts like gender, gender binary, transition etc. To enjoy it. I wouldn't recommend it as a first movie for cis straight people who are far from queer culture and community.

I hope this movie will be available on streaming services so a broader audience could access it.