XXY

XXY, Lucía Puenzo’s accomplished debut, explores the painful search for gender identity of Alex (an outstanding performance by Inés Efron), a hermaphrodite, as she enters adolescence and is pressured by her parents to “choose.” Alex’s ambiguity is painfully apparent. She is forced to think about having her penis removed when her parents invite a surgeon to their home in an isolated area of the Uruguayan coast. He comes to visit with his wife and son, Álvaro (Martín Piroyansky).

Alex and Álvaro strike up a friendship, and it soon emerges that they are equally confused and curious about sex, sexuality and gender. At the same time, they are obviously much less confused and fearful than their parents, whose prejudices often unknowingly hurt their children. Alex’s father, Kraken (Ricardo Darín), is the only adult who grasps the true nature of Alex’s relationship with Álvaro.

Gracefully shot, the film’s most astonishing trait is its openness and lack of judgement as it tackles this difficult, emotional topic. Moving and forceful, XXY virtually demands that people be given freedom of choice in a tolerant and understanding atmosphere.

Diana Sanchez, Toronto Film Festival Programme