Director: Émilie Ricard-Harvey
Release Year: 2022
In recent years, the conversations surrounding transgender people and their experiences have become less taboo. The documentary series Un Nouveau Jour (A New Day), directed by Émilie Ricard-Harvey, plays a significant role in shedding light on a lesser-known aspect of the transgender journey: gender affirmation surgery. This delicate subject is approached with sensitivity and grace by Ricard-Harvey, who brings the realities of gender-affirming surgeries to a wider audience.
The series opens with Julie Lagrange, a trans woman, arriving in Montreal. After a year and a half of preparation and waiting, she is about to undergo the final step in her transition - a sex reassignment surgery (SRS). This surgery will alter her genitalia, aligning her physical body with the woman she has always been inside. Un Nouveau Jour takes the audience deep into the lives of transgender individuals, documenting their experiences before, during, and after undergoing gender-affirming surgery. As they prepare to undergo one of the most significant events in their lives, the series offers a unique and intimate look at their reality, supported by the team at GrS Montréal, a world-renowned center specializing in gender affirmation surgery.
Julie is not alone in her journey. Other trans women also undergo similar transformations in the first two episodes of Un Nouveau Jour. The series also features trans men who are embarking on their own life-changing surgeries, saying goodbye to the female bodies they were born with to align with their true gender identity. As Émilie Ricard-Harvey, the series’ director, reflects, she did not fully understand the experiences of transgender people before making the documentary. “But beyond the transgender person, there is a human being with an identity quest,” she explains. “I get that - we all have one.” This core theme of personal exploration and self-discovery is at the heart of Un Nouveau Jour, as Ricard-Harvey emphasizes the profound human experiences of those who seek to live authentically in an exceptional and often difficult context. Not every transgender person opts for surgery, but for those who do, the documentary provides an unprecedented opportunity to witness a pivotal moment in their lives. Ricard-Harvey was granted exclusive access to GrS Montréal, Canada’s only private clinic specializing in sex reassignment surgeries. Since 1980, this clinic has performed over 10,500 surgeries on transgender and non-binary individuals from around the world, making it a global leader in this field.
The first two episodes of Un Nouveau Jour focus primarily on Julie, but the series also shares the stories of Emmanuelle and Rebecca, two other trans women who undergo vaginoplasties around the same time. From the outset, it’s clear that Ricard-Harvey has established a strong rapport with the people featured in her film. The patients, bathed in soft lighting, speak to the camera with a natural ease, sharing their experiences openly. Ricard-Harvey is careful not to push anyone too hard and respects their boundaries, letting the moments unfold organically. “I wanted the patients to understand that we weren’t going to cross a line,” Ricard-Harvey explains. She made sure to clearly communicate her intentions to those who agreed to appear in the documentary, emphasizing her commitment to showing the surgery process as respectfully and truthfully as possible. One thing, however, was certain: the surgeries had to be shown. The series stands out for its raw honesty and commitment to showing what these surgeries truly entail from start to finish. For Ricard-Harvey, showing the process is an essential step toward informing the public and helping to break down misconceptions. “Showing is informing; it’s helping to understand,” she says. “That’s how we break down barriers.”
In a significant departure from many documentaries, Ricard-Harvey's camera follows Julie into the operating room. The footage captures brief, carefully selected moments of the surgery itself, with some animated sequences to clarify the procedure. This direct but restrained depiction offers viewers an authentic and educational glimpse into the surgical process without sensationalizing it. “There is a great deal of intimacy in showing these surgeries,” Ricard-Harvey acknowledges. “But we only show that intimacy in the context of surgery.” She has clearly weighed the ethical implications of each image, ensuring that the patients’ dignity is maintained throughout the process. Un Nouveau Jour does not only focus on the surgeries themselves; it also highlights the warm, supportive environment in which these procedures take place. The series takes care to portray the GrS Montréal clinic as a compassionate space, where a devoted team of medical professionals works to guide patients through this transformative moment in their lives. Dr. Pierre Brassard, a key figure in the clinic, emphasizes the importance of affirming one’s gender identity: “Transgender identity is not something that can be invented, it’s something that is lived,” he states. Gender dysphoria, the condition where a person’s gender identity is at odds with their assigned sex at birth, can lead to significant mental health struggles, including the risk of suicide. Dr. Brassard’s work is deeply meaningful because he witnesses firsthand the positive impact these surgeries have on the well-being of his patients.
The trans women featured in the first episodes of the documentary appear remarkably content with themselves as they complete their transitions. Ricard-Harvey notes the immense relief and sense of affirmation each person experiences. “It’s a very powerful moment of affirmation,” she says. “I felt a great sense of relief in each of these people.” Ricard-Harvey expresses a sense of pride in her work and hopes that it will be seen as an act of solidarity with the transgender community. “I feel like I’ve done something useful,” she says. “I see myself as an ally, and I hope that all transgender people will see it that way too.” While she acknowledges that some people may remain closed-minded or uninterested in learning about transgender experiences, she is confident that the documentary will help inform those who lack knowledge and wish to understand more. “For those who are curious and open-minded, I think the series will open their eyes to the reality of transgender people.” Through its unflinching honesty and empathetic portrayal of gender-affirming surgeries, Un Nouveau Jour provides an invaluable resource for both the transgender community and the wider public. It is a film that offers an intimate glimpse into a transformative process, underscoring the deep human desire for authenticity, acceptance, and self-realization.
Image credits: lapresse.ca
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