XXY

From mediaartiststudio

Directed by: Lucía Puenzo

Capitol Theater, Wednesday Nov. 12 at 7:30 PM

2007 / Argentina / 86 minutes / 35mm

Starring: Ricardo Darín, Inés Efron The psychological damage caused by inappropriate gender assignment is sensitively explored in newcomer Lucia Puenzo’s brave study of teen angst. Born intersexed and raised as a girl, 15-year-old Alex is nudged by her parents towards making a choice that will impact her entire future. Ultimately well intentioned, the parents even invite a surgeon acquaintance to help with this painful process. But after feisty Alex manages to fend off a gang of taunting teenage boys, an intimate encounter with the surgeon’s son Alvaro (who has gender identity issues of his own) unleashes a torrent of interference from those who think they have Alex’s best interests at heart. Set against atmospheric wind-swept beach scenes, neophyte Inés Efron and Argentinean star Ricardo Darín (El Aura, Nine Queens) deliver strong performances as Alex and her father. Director Lucia Puenzo cites influences from both the cinematic work of Haneke, Bruno Dumont, and Cassavetes, as well as the literature of Cheever and Nabokov. Based on a short story called “Cinismo,” from the Argentine writer Sergio Bizzio, XXY is an accomplished, non-judgmental plea for tolerance and a reminder that gender identity should never be arbitrarily imposed.