thinker1691 Review of XXY

XXY (2007)

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

[9/10 · 17 September 2009]

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. ****