The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 triggered the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II, forcing millions of Ukrainians to flee their homeland. Amid the countless stories of Ukrianians seeking refuge, the journey of Love and Jane, a Thai-Ukrainian queer couple in Kyiv, stands out. Their story is both deeply personal and profoundly universal, highlighting challenges related to gender, identity, and relationship..
“Love in Transition” examines the complexities of gender transition within the context of a marriage. It delves into the couple’s unique journey in navigating deeply personal challenges—including the evolving nature of their relationship, their experiences of love and loss, and their search for hope amidst uncertainty, with details and nuances that are rarely in the public discourse.
Secondly, “Love in Transition”seeks to show the human toll of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, focusing on the experience of Ukrainian refugees in Europe and their struggles with isolation and uncertainty as the war drags on. Jane considered herself lucky to be able to escape to an LGBTQ-friendly Switzerland, but rebuilding their lives as refugees presents new challenges. Like many Ukrainian refugees, she struggled to find a job, a sense of belonging, and a place to call home.
Lastly, the documentary aims to shed light on the transgender community in Ukraine–a small, marginalized group. While many already felt they could not openly be themselves in peacetime, their lives have become even more difficult, and more dangerous, since the war began.
Love and Jane gave interviews to major media outlets in Thailand, including the BBC Thai, so from the get go, we were determined to dig deep and create an intimate portrait of their lives beyond that which could be captured in an interview. This required building trust and relationships with Love and Jane beginning months prior to filming. While Love and Jane share a passion for working in digital media and sharing their lives with online audiences, their personalities are markedly opposite, due to their different cultural backgrounds and upbringing.
Warangkana “Waan” Chomchuen, the documentary filmmaker and a native Thai, drew on her personal and professional experiences of straddling Thai and the western cultures, to approach Love and Jane and respond to their different preferences and communication styles. Love tended to play down the difficulties she faced and would go as far as making a joke out of her situation – a common practice in Thai culture – which made it challenging to convey the true depth of her pain. Jane struggled with depression and gender dysphoria and filming her required great sensitivity.
It took time, patience, and sensitivity to build trust and to make the couple feel comfortable. Working as a solo producer and videographer allowed Waan to fully immerse herself in the intricacies of their lives without being intrusive, much like a fly on a wall, able to“disappear” and “reappear” as needed. With the support of Voice of America, Waan was able to spend three weeks filming Love and Jane in two locations – Switzerland and Thailand – both of which illustrated different phases of their lives, the first as a place to take refuge and the second as a place of respite where they were able to refocus and regain hope.
The multifarious nature in Love and Jane’s struggle complicated the scripting and editing process. Key elements in the documentary – the transgender love story, the refugee experience, and Jane’s mental health struggles – competed for the prime spot in the documentary. Waan received tremendous support from her team of editors, whose experience in documentary and journalism helped her to identify and stick to her priority in telling the story, namely, the effect of Jane’s gender transition on the couple’s marriage.
“Love and Jane” was selected to screen at Queer North Film Festival, one of the largest LGBTQ-themed film festivals in Canada, and won a Jury Award for Short/Mid-Length Documentary. The jury noted that “the ambivalences, conflicts and compromises revealed [in the documentary] seem more realistic- and heart-breaking- than many stories depicting relationships shifting from heterosexual to queer.”
VOA presented the documentary to hundreds of university students across Thailand, including in the restive South where strict Sharia law dominates the lives of many families. Love and Jane’s story also received a lot of media attention in Thailand. Audiences have engaged in lively online discussions about gender and identity, the contours of love and marriage in the modern era, as well as the impacts of the Russian invasions on the lives of many individuals, beyond the headlines. .
At a time when there are social and legislative efforts being made in the U.S. and around the world against the transgender community, the personal and powerful story of Love and Jane helps deepen the audiences’ understanding of gender dysphoria and addresses misconceptions that have long stigmatized the trans community.
Love and Jane broke into tears after watching the documentary. They appreciated that their story was handled with sensitivity and respect. For them, “Love in Transition” is a testament to their unbreakable bond and spirits during one of the most trying times of their lives.
