- XXY (film)
Infobox Film
name = XXY
caption = Theatrical release poster
director =Lucía Puenzo
producer =José María Morales Carla Pelligra Luis Puenzo Fernando Sirianni Fabienne Vonier
writer = Lucía Puenzo
starring =Ricardo Darín Valeria Bertuccelli Inés Efron Martín Piroyansky Carolina Peleritti
music =Andrés Goldstein Daniel Tarrab
cinematography =Natasha Braier
editing =Alex Zito
distributor =
released =June 14 ,2007
runtime = 87 minutes
country =Argentina
language = Spanish
budget =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0995829|"XXY" is a 2007 Argentine film written and directed by
Lucía Puenzo . The film starsRicardo Darín ,Valeria Bertuccelli ,Inés Efron andMartín Piroyansky . It tells the story of a 15-year-old intersex person: the way her family copes with her condition, and the ultimate decision that she must eventually make as she explores her sexuality."XXY" has received widespread critical acclaim, winning the Critics' Week grand prize at the 2007
Cannes film festival , as well as the ACID/CCAS Support Award. [cite news | last = Leffler | first = Rebecca | coauthors = | title = Critics Week grand prize to 'XXY' | work = Hollywood Reporter | date =May 26 ,2007 | url = http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/awards_festivals/cannes/news/e3id97fddd8a9cc782ed64893105887c4fc | accessdate = 2007-06-25 ] It was nominated for eight awards at the 2008Argentine Film Critics Association Awards , and was nominated or won awards at a number of other foreign film festivals. It was chosen to close the 2008Melbourne Queer Film Festival .The film's title is a reference to
Klinefelter's Syndrome , also known as XXY Syndrome, a condition in which males have an extra X sex chromosome.Plot summary
Alex (Efron) is a 15-year-old intersex person, with both male and female genitals, but living as a girl, who has been using medicines to suppress male features such as a beard, and to avoid reduction of size of her breasts. Alex has discontinued using these medicines.
Alex's parents moved with her from
Argentina to a village by the sea inUruguay , to flee from negatively reacting people. Her father, Néstor Kraken (Darín), is a marine biologist who has written a book on sexuality and makes a living treating wounded animals supplied by fishermen. Her mother, Suli (Bertuccelli), invites friends from Argentina: a surgeon, his wife and teenage son Álvaro (Piroyansky). The purpose, unknown to Néstor, is to discuss the possibilities of an operation. Álvaro does not know about Alex's condition.Alex bluntly tells Álvaro she would like to have sex with him. After some hesitation he agrees. Unexpectedly Alex penetrates Álvaro anally. They are interrupted by Néstor seeing it. Alex later apologizes, but Álvaro says he liked it. Álvaro's father, after hearing that his son finds Alex attractive, is relieved, he worried that Álvaro might be gay.
Three boys from the village forcibly pull down Alex's pants to see the genitals. Néstor realizes that reporting this to the police would cause the whole village to know about Alex' condition. However, Alex decides that that does not matter. Alex also decides that she does not want to resume taking medicines, and she does not want an operation.
Guests from Argentina depart. During the farewell Alex tells Álvaro that she loves him.
Themes
Alex keeps aquariums full of
clownfish . Clownfish are protandrous hermaphrodites: all individuals are initially male, and may later become female. This example of a hermaphroditic organism in nature is repeated throughout the film.The sea animal motif recurs in the family name Kraken, which is also the name of a mythical sea monster.
Critical reception
The film received generally favorable reviews from critics. As of
May 3 , 2008, the review aggregatorRotten Tomatoes reported that 69% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 16 reviews. [cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/xxy/ |title=XXY Movie Reviews, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes |accessdate=2008-05-02 |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes ]Metacritic reported the film had an average score of 66 out of 100, based on 6 reviews. [cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/xxy |title=XXY (2008): Reviews |accessdate=2008-05-02 |publisher=Metacritic ] The film's U.S. premiere is set forJune 24 ,2008 at Frameline 32, the 32nd San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival.See also
*
Intersexuality
*Hermaphrodite References
External links
* [http://xxylapelicula.puenzo.com/ Official website]
*imdb title|id=0995829|title=XXY
* [http://drewtewksbury.com/2008/08/20/xxy-review/ Artist Direct Review]
*rotten-tomatoes|id=xxy|title=XXY
*metacritic film|id=xxy|title=XXY
*amg movie|id=1:399432|title=XXY
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