This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous

I'm a bit behind the times as I have only vaguely heard of Gigi Gorgeous, so in a way I am glad that I can look at this as an outsider. At first I thought I was going to get a glorified documentary on how YouTube can make almost anybody famous. But when I saw that Barbara Kopple was the director, then I knew there could be something of some interest. After all, Kopple did make one of my all time favorite observational documentaries, Harlan County U.S.A., and that was way back in 1976 or thereabouts.

With the Gigi Gorgeous doco, she has managed to get all this amazing footage that Gig herself had shot. Kopple then managed to inter-cut the intimate footage with very emotional interviews from Gigi's family to make it so involving and interesting. What really stood out for me was the phenomenal effects of fame via YouTube and most importantly, the unconditional love of a conservative father, specially during Gigi's gender transition period.

A well thought out and touching documentary about acceptance and being true to yourself, all for the general publics observational pleasure. We live in a time where revealing our intimate selves through forms of social media, and then receiving support in return from the public, can help us get through the hardships of life.