Reviews, Endorsements and Awards

Straightlaced

From girls confronting popular messages about culture and body image to boys who are sexually active just to prove they aren't gay, the students in Straightlaced illustrate the toll that deeply held stereotypes and rigid gender policing have on all of our lives.

“The teens here are smart, thoughtful, and articulate, and they effectively express a wide range of experiences related to gender issues. Highly recommended. 3.5 stars”
–Video Librarian

“Heartfelt, fast-moving and fully multicultural . . . An honest, smart, respectful, and nearly comprehensive treatment of gender in teens’ lives with the potential to inspire nuanced and spirited conversations.”
– School Library Journal, starred review

“Watching Straightlaced rekindled both the outrage and the hope that came with bringing Harvey Milk’s story to the screen. This new documentary is a rare gem that provides a forum for young people to speak eloquently about the courage it takes to break out of the box, live authentic lives, and stand up for justice. I think Harvey would be proud of the kids in Straightlaced, and I urge young and old alike to support GroundSpark’s campaign to get this film screened in schools and communities across the country.”
– Bruce Cohen, Oscar-winning Producer of MILK

“As in Chasnoff’s previous recent works, the film is remarkable for the candor with which its subjects speak – in this case, teens discussing their frustrations with gender roles and stereotypes.”
— The San Francisco Chronicle

“The young people in this wonderful documentary have given us the gift of their honesty, insight, and hope even within a context of persistent gender conservatism. Their provocative comments stimulate lively classroom discussions and even debates on topics students otherwise find too ‘hot to handle.’”
–Arlene Avakian, Professor and Director of Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies at University of Massachusetts, Amherst

“GroundSpark has come out with a new powerful educational documentary in which “gender intensification” is on high display. High school is like a pressure cooker when it comes to fulfilling gender roles. Straightlaced may be the first film to document what life is really like for teens who try to live up to masculine and feminine ideals, want to live up to them, or sometimes simply refuse them altogether.”
— Riki Wilchins, True Child Research Institute

“The most important thing in schools is we have to make children feel safe, like their school is ‘su casa,’ their house… and I applaud this film because it actually brings forward the discussions that have to be a part of any community, and any school, if we are really going to treat everybody with dignity and respect… That’s what this movie does. It lifts kids up to make them realize that it’s okay to be who you want to be.”
– Carlos Garcia, Superintendent of San Francisco Unified School District

“I cannot overstate how important this documentary is to helping our children and young adults escape violence and find their own ways in life. If I was King of the World I’d have every parent, teacher and teenager in America see this documentary so that as many hearts and minds as possible would find more compassion and understanding, and take more initiative in protecting our young people, our future.”
– Don Schwartz, CineSource Magazine

“There is at least one individual in the film for any viewer to identify with. Perhaps the greatest thing about this documentary is the way it provides dozens of models of self-acceptance and healthy attitudes towards the ways others express themselves
in behavior and dress.”
– Jeremy Hatch, Metblogs.com

“ …a work of huge importance, that is both challenging and accessible.”
– London Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

“Chasnoff’s riveting and often funny documentary sparks dialogue about the effect of homophobia on gender roles in high school and how these issues affect all of us.”
– Mary Burbar, The Guilfordian

“Powerful… Fascinating…. An in-depth, fun-but-serious documentary that will be an important learning tool for students, certainly, but also for anyone who has ever been felt constrained by gender — which includes all of us whether we consciously acknowledge it or not.”
– Andy Birkley, Thecolum.MN, Minnesota News and Culture

“Fifty students talk with bracing candor and insight about how they navigate gender, sexuality, peer pressure, and homophobia. The results are sometimes encouraging, sometimes disheartening, but consistently fascinating. An excellent documentary.”
– Gary Morris, Bright Lights Film Journal

“What I really like about the film is that…It’s about everyone, and how everyone gets put into these little cookie-cutter molds and how weird that is.”
– Keith Garcia, programming director, Starz Film Center, Denver

“Interesting, informative, and very well put together visually. I would recommend it to anyonebut especially to teens.”
– Deirdre McGarrity, TC Daily Planet

Winner of:

The Baltimore Women’s Film Festival–Best Feature Documentary

CINE Golden Eagle Award 2009

2009 Western Psychological Association Film Festival–Audience Award