“Gender Queer” incident inspires film “A Book By Their Cover”

County of Berkshire — Inspired by controversial local events, Stockbridge filmmaker John Tedeschi has made the film “A Book By Their Cover.” In an interview with The Berkshire Edge, Tedeschi, who is a first-time screenwriter and director, said the film was inspired in part by the controversy surrounding Great Barrington police's investigation of a WEB Du Bois Regional Middle School teacher over the book “Gender Queer.”

As of late September, the now-former teacher's lawsuit over the incident is still in court. Tedeschi said that while the film was partly inspired by the incident, other events across the country also influenced the film, including book bans related to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) community.

“As I listened to the middle school assembly that was held about the book, I felt that there is a need to make this book accessible to some people, as long as it is age appropriate,” Tedeschi said.

The film revolves around 12-year-old Samantha, played by actress Eva Ferreira, who discovers a book while staying at her grandparents' house. “She discovers a book on the bookshelf of her house and it somehow sparks her curiosity,” said Tedeschi. “It's a medical book. Through this book, she begins to realize and learn things about herself. She thinks she needs to read the book privately or secretly. When everyone in the house goes to bed, Samantha comes downstairs in the middle of the night and reads the book.”

Tedeschi said the medical book she is reading was written in 1962. “She reads the pages that say 'homosexual,'” Tedeschi said. “She is a little dismayed, confused and scared. Samantha goes to school the next day and the stress makes her angry and anxious. We see her go to the school bathroom and she is very frustrated and alone.”

Tedeschi explained that Samantha goes home to her parents and asks them questions. “Her parents don't know all the answers, but they are very supportive,” Tedeschi said. “They decide to get a book to help her.” Samantha's parents gift her the 2020 book “The Every Body Book: The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Guide for Kids about Sex, Gender, Bodies, and Families,” written by Rachel Simon and illustrated by Noah Grigni.

Tedeschi said there will be trouble if Samantha takes the book to school. “During the school day, someone will see the book and not like it,” Tedeschi said. “That person [the school janitor] takes the book, confiscates it, and brings it to the principal. The principal takes the book to the school principal, and the school principal then calls the police.”

The film then jumps forward in time to a town hall meeting where different opinions are expressed about the book and the investigation.

“But the book will eventually be returned to Samantha,” Tedeschi said. “She's a little shaken, but she feels like she can move on, work things out, and then feel better over time.”

When asked what he hopes audiences will take away from the film, Tedeschi said, “I hope people realize that resources are needed and that it's important for young people to feel equal and visible.”

“[Young people] need to be visible and they don't have to learn in secret and shame,” Tedeschi said. “They should be given the same awkward opportunity to learn about sex, sexuality, sex education and biology. Kids sometimes ask their parents how babies are made and there's this quick answer. But the answer isn't always adoption or that there are other types of families. I think we need to be a little bit more current and knowledgeable about the spectrum of different families and information.”

The film was shot in Berkshire County. “We shot a lot in Stockbridge,” Tedeschi said. “We were also able to use a middle school in Otis for some scenes.”

Tedeschi said he will submit “A Book By Their Cover” to various festivals and that the film will soon be shown on the public access cable channel Community Television of South Berkshires.

In an email to The Berkshire Edge after the interview, Tedeschi clarified:

… [T]The film is not a true story, it is not a film that uses the words “based on true or actual events” and the characters are not meant to appear as real people. The film was inspired by many things, it is, as you said, a mirror of events, but it is not an actual depiction.