Review of XXY (2007) by Ptolemy H — 19 May 2008

As we enter May the bombardment of summer blockbusters may begin to get overwhelming even if they have so far been duds (Iron Man, Speed Racer, even the hype of Indiana Jones is beginning to drop for me) but for those eager to look, big and loud special efects haven't obliterated the more more low-key dignified treats from the independent world cinema.

One little treat that hopefully won't be missed is Argentinian film XXY, written and directed by newcomer Lucia Puenzo. Set in a quiet Uruguayan coastal town, our protagonist is Alex, a 15 year-old who owns the titular chromosome structure, that of a hermaphrodite.

When we enter her sheltered life, she has already been raised very much as a young woman, taking medication to counter any visible masculine development. Perhaps something like a younger Hilary Swank in Boys Don't Cry, Alex has a tomboyish quality that also makes her express her frustrstating sexual awakenings with more aggression against the male characters, particularly with the arrival of Alvaro, a nervous-looking teen, and his parents, the father a renowned cosmetic surgeon who's obviously paid a visit with his own agendas.

Still, as strange the subject matter is, ripe for trashiness, the drama's themes and backstory is handled with restraint and subtlety, much like the quiet and soft palettes of the coastal landscape.

We're able to explore this in some more depth from the surrounding characters, Alex's parents as well as the conflict that comes with the bullish surgeon, whose intent on persuading Alex to have surgery (read purge/castrate) only comes secondary to his unabashed cruelty to his son Alvaro.

Ines Efron gives a great performance as Alex, convincingly aggressive and vulnerable from truly understanding her body, complicated by the natural sexual desires anyone else wants. Of course, the one over-riding question, given the subject matter is, was Puenzo really going to let you see exactly what makes Alex so different, much like the shocking reveal of the foetus in the Romanian 4 Months 3 Weeks 2 Days.

The answer is probably going to frustrate some people but maybe only those weened on sensationalism, and if that's what you paid your money to see, you're better off going to a San Francisco freak show.

Better to view XXY as an original coming-of-age drama that delivers its content in a dignified tone. There may be hope yet that someone will be able to adapt Jeffrey Eugenides' hermaphrodie epic Middlesex.

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