''Bi the Way'' is a 2008
documentary film
A documentary film or documentary is a non-fictional film, motion-picture intended to "document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". Bill Nichols (film critic), Bil ...
about
bisexuality
Bisexuality is a romantic or sexual attraction or behavior toward both males and females, or to more than one gender. It may also be defined to include romantic or sexual attraction to people regardless of their sex or gender identity, whic ...
in the United States. It had its world premiere at the
SXSW Film Festival in
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the county seat, seat and largest city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and Williamson County, Texas, Williamson co ...
.
The film has aired at
film festivals throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Turkey, Greece, Australia, Brazil, and Taiwan, including at Silverdocs Film Festival,
Outfest
Outfest is an LGBTQ-oriented nonprofit that produces two film festivals, operates a movie streaming platform, and runs educational services for filmmakers in Los Angeles. Outfest is one of the key partners, alongside the Frameline Film Festival ...
, Newfest, !f Istanbul, and Rio de Janeiro Film Festival. It was aired on the Logo Network in summer 2009.
The film follows the lives of several young bisexuals in the United States.
Its makers, Brittany Blockman and Josephine Decker, also appear on camera to frame the stories.
Synopsis
The film is structured around a roadtrip, during which the creators introduce five young Americans confronting issues relating to bisexuality. Former cheerleader Pam, from
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the seat of Shelby County in the southwest part of the state; it is situated along the Mississippi River. With a population of 633,104 at the 2020 U.S. census, Memphis is the second-mos ...
, navigates between the tolerance and sexual openness of her friendship group and the conservatism of her southern Catholic family. Black hip-hop dancer Tahj, enjoying little success with girls, forms a relationship with a man he meets on MySpace and must weigh the rejection of his community against his newfound love. 28-year-old Taryn is contemplating marriage to her boyfriend but also embarks on a new romance with a woman, testing the limits of monogamy and the boundaries of gender roles. David, 24, defies the expectations of his parents and ex-girlfriends to assert his bisexuality, while seeking to reconcile his traditional values with his open-minded views. Lastly, in
San Antonio, Texas
("Cradle of Freedom")
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, map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio
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, subdivision_name = United States
, subdivision_type1= State
, subdivision_name1 = Texas
, subdivision_t ...
, Josh, 11, fears his gay father will reject him if he pursues his growing interest in girls.
The film interlaces these stories with commentary from evolutionary biologists, psychologists, and anthropologists to discuss themes of sexual ambiguity.
Awards
* 2008: The film won the Alternative Spirit Grand Prize at the Rhode Island International Film Festival.
References
External links
The Washington Blade
College Movie Review
External links
Official site
*
(''The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'')
Podcast on ''Bi the Way'' at GreenCine
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bi The Way
Films directed by Josephine Decker
Documentary films about same-sex sexuality
Bisexuality-related films
Films shot in New Mexico
2008 documentary films
2008 films
2008 LGBT-related films
2000s English-language films
2000s American films
American LGBT-related documentary films