For the past five years, Aris, the filmmaker has been pestering her mom to talk to
her about her childhood, her body and past and pending surgical decisions: all in
front of a camera. In Mami y Yo y Mi Gallito Aris and her mother finally sit down
to talk about her body as a hermaphrodite.
David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies|Harvard University. “Looking Out
for the Queer in Latin American Film: Mami y Yo y Mi Gallito / Mom and Me and My Little
Rooster.” Accessed September 26, 2023. https://drclas.harvard.edu/event/looking-out-queer-latin-american-film-mami-y-yo-y-mi-gallito-mom-and-me-and-my-little.
Arisleyda Dilone is an intersex filmmaker and director whose piercing essay“Growing
Up Intersex, All I Wanted Were Breasts–But Now I Don’t Know if I Want Them Anymore,”
we shared here earlier this year. Last month, Dilone’s short film Mami Y Yo y Mi Gallito
screened at Harvard University.
As Dilone said in her director’s statement for the Department of Romance Languages
and Literature sponsored event:
“In making films I’ve set out to heal something inside of me. A rupture. My life’s
work is to document pinnacle moments in my life and in my family. Through documentary
filmmaking I create a space for participation and provide a stage for visual representation
that aims to sharply interrupt generational cycles of trauma and/or simply highlight
our existence. I decided to first tell my story about my intersex body in relation
to womanhood as defined by family.”
Intersex Campaign for Equality. “Mami Y Yo y Mi Gallito, by Director Arisleyda Dilone
– Intersex Campaign for Equality.” Accessed September 26, 2023. https://www.intersexequality.com/mami-y-yo-y-mi-gallito-by-arisleyda-dilute/.
