Vulva 3.0
Director: Claudia Richarz, Ulrike Zimmermann
Writer: Ulrike Zimmermann
Part of: identities Festival
Seen on: 14.6.2015

“Plot”:
In Vulva 3.0 Richarz and Zimmermann take a look at (German) society’s relationship with female genitalia, in particular the vulva. They stretch their examination from sex education to art, from aesthetic operations performed on vulvas to female genital mutilation.

Vulva 3.0 really was a cool documentary. They take into account many perspectives and many different angles on the topic and approach it all with a sense of humor and a sense for empowerment. I really enjoyed it.

Vulvas are treated in a very weird way: they are this taboo subject that can’t be talked about and can certainly not be shown, unless it’s in a porn context and then they are subject to a very narrow standard of beauty that is rigorously policed with photoshop and the help of surgery – filling out labia majora, shortening labia minora, making sure that everything is perfectly symmetrical. It’s already difficult even for cis women to relate to their bodies in a healthy, respectful way, but it becomes even more difficult concerning their genitalia in particular.

There are various art projects that focus on the vulva – from photo projects to sculptures – and they quickly face censorship and being labelled as pornographic. Seemingly the only socially accepted option for women to relate to their vulva is through aesthetic surgery: as long as you try to control your own genitalia and conform them to exactly what the social standard currently is – hairless and symmetrical – that is fine. Also fine: if you try to save poor African women from FGM, which has the additional advantage of playing into your white savior complex.

The movie looks at all these issues in respectful and varied interviews with all kinds of different, but always interesting experts who know their stuff and manage to talk about it succinctly, without losing the layers of complexities within. And, as I said, with a healthy dose of humor that made the film a joy to watch.

Since I was that well entertained, I really didn’t want it to end. Especially since the end did come a little abruptly – the movie’s biggest weakness. But as I walked out I felt inspired to grab a mirror and look at my own vulva again, so the end of the film isn’t actually the end of the examination of that topic anyway.

Summarizing: Strongly recommended, for people with vulvas in particular, but also those without.