XXY

Argentina, 2007, 95 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Lucia Puenzo.

The title XXY takes us into the symbols of chromosomes, questions of what makes men male and women female and what happens with different chromosomes. It can’t be reproduced in this typeface, but the lettering for this film’s title on the screen and in advertising indicated that the y still had a small piece of the fourth part of the X indicating that this was a film about gender ambiguity.

This is a serious film but it takes the form of a domestic drama with scientific conversation interludes. The focus is on Alex (Ines Efron), a fifteen year old girl who has both male and female genitalia. It emerges that she has had many operations, that she has had to move from school to school because of student curiosity and bullying, that her parents (the father involved in marine science, especially concerning turtles and their sexual constitution) have moved for some peace to an isolated part of Uruguay.

When a surgeon and his wife visit the family, their shyly awkward son is attracted to Inez and confused by her. She is a strong-minded girl but, at her age and with her difficult experiences, she is trying to discover more of her identity and her sexual attractions. This is complicated by her antagonism towards a school friend who is really supportive of her and by the brutal attacks of some of the local louts. She is also friendly with the daughter of her father’s work associate and talks freely about sexual matters with her.

While the character focus is on the teenagers (and the performances are strong because the two leads were actually 24 at the time of filming), the issues are left to the discussions and clashes between the parents of Alex and the visitors. The surgeon is in favour of further surgery. Alex’s parents are weary and wary and feel they need to let their daughter decide about her own life. The father finds an article about a person who had a transgender operation from girl to boy and who has led a full life since and goes to visit and talk over matters with him.

No easy answers, of course, and this is an issue that most of us do not come across first hand, so the questions remain rather abstract until we see a film like this which shows actual people in their story – which gives us food for thought and for emotions.

1.The title, the broken X for a Y? Chromosomes? Issues of gender? Hermaphrodite?

2.Themes via story, emotions? The facts, surgery? The consequences? Decisions? Attitudes of society? The burden for the person concerned? Audiences learning from this story and treatment?

3.The Argentina- Uruguay settings, the countryside, the sea, remote? Town, school, beaches, homes? Realistic setting? The musical score?

4.The writing and the direction from a female perspective? The central character as a girl with male characteristics – and the possibility of transgender operation? The feminine sensibility? The cast?

5.The background, the family, nature, the father and his involvement with turtles, the information, the laboratories, research? The care for the turtles – and the lesser care for humans?

6.The family, ordinary life, the parents, at work, the associates, meeting the visitors, their settling in? The introduction to Alex? To the visitor’s son?

7.Alex, her age, attitude, her life up till then, punching out her friend, her motivations, her moods? School and the authorities? The daughter of the associate, their chatting together, sexuality, intimacy? Swimming? The son and his approach, her approach to him, two adolescents, the curiosity of sex, the boy’s shock, reaction? Her aggressive attitude towards him sexually? Her meeting the friend whom she had hit, at the wharf, fishing? His love and support? The bullies, the attempted rape, their curiosity? The young boy defending her?

8.Alex and the information about the doctors, surgery, her parents, the advice? Her stopping the pills? The effect on her emotionally?

9.The father, his signs, his work, the discussions with his wife, their life and the moves to more remote places? The advice of the surgeon? Reading the article, driving to visit the man with the transgender experience? His explanations of the success and his family life?

10.The surgeon, his attitude, scientific point of view, his solutions? His wife? The father’s anger – and the surgeon and his family leaving?

11.The boy, his age, quiet, adolescent, sexuality, the encounter with Alex and his emotions, shock, experiencing questions about himself? Leaving?

12.The future for Alex?