Review of XXY (2007) by A.d. O — 15 Nov 2011

Not your typical coming-of-age story.

XXY (2008) - 8.1/10.

Director - Lucia Puenzo.

Cast - Ines Efron, Ricardo Darin, Martin Piroyanski, Valeria Bertuccelli, German Palacios, Carolina Pelereti, Luciano Nobile.

"XXY" stars Ines Efron as 15 year old Alex. Alex is intersexed, born with both a vagina and a penis. Alex's parents Kraken (Ricardo Darin) and Suli (Valeria Bertuccelli) move her to Uruguay where Kraken works as a marine biologist so Alex won't be under so much scrutiny. Suli invites a couple (German Palacios & Carolina Pelereti) to spend the weekend and they bring their 16 year old son Alvaro (Martin Piroyanski) along. Alvaro's father happens to be a surgeon. Meanwhile Alex must deal with her emerging puberty as well as her identity as pressure mounts to make a decision.

A film with such a delicate subject matter could easily end up either exploitive or clinically overwrought, but director Lucia Puenzo succeeds in creating a moving family drama and coming-of-age story. The focus of course is Alex. Born intersexed but raised as a girl, Alex possesses both masculine and feminine qualities and feels forced to make a decision that perhaps shouldn't have to be made at all. Her parents are loving and very supportive an attempt to shield Alex from anyone who could hurt her. Alvaro takes an interest in Alex but is dealing with demons of his own; namely his own sexuality and a father he seemingly cannot please.

The performances in the film are quite god, especially Ines Efron as Alex and Ricardo Darin as the father. Puenzo doesn't offer easy answers but she does create a rather unique coming-of-age story that celebrates the power of family. A pleasant surprise and definitely worth checking out.