Xxy review

Argentinian director Lucia Puenzo makes a confident and sensitive debut behind the camera with XXY, the unusual (if not unique) tale of a fifteen-year-old who is struggling to come to terms with being a hermaphrodite. Far from sensationalising such a potentially controversial subject, the writer/director provides a rather touching and extremely interesting depiction.

Alex is a typical teenager on the face of things: in trouble at school, mouthing off to her parents and discovering her sexuality. But in one way she is very different: although she appears female to look at, she possesses both sets of genitalia. Years of tablets to control her condition are beginning to take their toll, and her parents are faced with the tricky decision of whether to put their child under the doctor's knife.

As a result they invite a surgeon to come and stay with them to look at Alex's situation. The teen rebels again, but takes a sexual interest in the surgeon's son. As Alex's condition becomes a matter for scandal in their remote community, things inevitably reach a crisis point.

Puenzo is blessed with a dedicated and convincing cast. Ricardo Darin, the Argentinian star (he was the lead in the wonderful Nine Queens) is his usual charismatic self as the troubled father and Martin Piroyansky is also appealing as Alvaro, Alex's male counterpart, who is also struggling with his own developing personality.

But undoubtedly the star of the show is Ines Efron, who plays the young hermaphrodite, and who delivers one of the year's most honest and brave screen performances. Her turn has helped to propel the film to win awards at film festivals around the world, including Cannes, and viewers seeking out something completely different from the norm will be well rewarded.

Paul Hurley