XXY (2007)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Lucía Puenzo

Writers:

Sergio Bizzio (short story "Cinismo")
Lucía Puenzo (writer)

Release Date:

2 May 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

This is the dramatic story of a 15-year-old hermaphrodite. She lives with her parents, who have to cope with the challenges of her medical condition. |

Plot Keywords:

Hermaphrodite | Surgery | Androgyny | Broken Nose | Rape Attempt

Awards:

20 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Ricardo Darín	...	Kraken
Valeria Bertuccelli	...	Suli
Germán Palacios	...	Ramiro
Carolina Pelleritti	...	Erika
Martín Piroyansky	...	Alvaro
Inés Efron	...	Alex
Guillermo Angelelli	...	Juan
César Troncoso	...	Washington
Jean Pierre Reguerraz	...	Esteban
Ailín Salas	...	Roberta
Luciano Nóbile	...	Vando
Lucas Escariz	...	Saul

Also Known As:

XXY (International: English title) (UK) (USA)

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

Argentina | France | Spain

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Italy:VM14 | Canada:14A | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | France:Unrated (with warning) | Brazil:16 | Ireland:16 | Norway:11 | UK:15 | Hungary:16 | Belgium:KT | Australia:MA (2008) | Taiwan:R-18 | Germany:12 | New Zealand:R16 | Poland:15 | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Piriápolis, Maldonado, Uruguay

Company:

Historias Cinematograficas Cinemania

Trivia:

On September 27, 2007, XXY was chosen to represent Argentina at the Oscars, for the Best Foreign Language Film category. In a rare sweep, it was also chosen to represent Argentina at Spain's Goya Awards, for Best Foreign Film in Spanish. The tradition has been for two separate films to be sent to one of the awards each. The runner-up this year, in both cases, was La señal (2007), also starring (and co-directed by) Ricardo Darín.

" There is something wonderful about being different, but few are courageous enough to choose it "

The world as we have come to know it has not changed in thousands of years. That which was seen as strange, bizarre and unusual in past eras, has come to be known as simply different, but nothing science cannot correct. In the modern world, medical wonders have become common place. Unfortunately, that goes for Freaks as well. Such strange and unusual people are still far from the 'Norm'. They are still vilified in such a way, that most people want to have themselves 'altered' to fit in so as not to frighten children or cause controversy. This film " XXY "is about a ' Hermaphrodite ' called Alex (Ines Efron) a fifteen year old girl who has decided not be surgically corrected into either a male or female. Her parents are deeply troubled with her decision as are her few friends. Her closest friend is a teenage boy named Alvaro (Martin Piroyansky) the son of a surgeon and his wife who have joined Alex's parents on a retreat to the beach. There, it is hoped, Alex will chose a gender which best suits her. Despite the fact that Alex feels drawn to Alvaro, she also is troubled as to why she feels it's wrong. The entire film is dedicated to her struggles. It's confrontational setting brings out the curious in neighborhood boys and girls and causes Alex to wonder if she would be better off dead. The film is very slow to develop, slower still to present a particular direction and hampered by juvenile editing and a static script. The ocean scenery fluctuate's like the constant change of setting and furtive characters with no real fixed direction. It does however create a modem amount of sympathy for the main character, who remains as elusive in her decision as her dark aspirations. A good film for an undemanding audience who desires what the main character wants, resolution. ****