Inés Efron, Lucas Escariz, Luciano Nóbile

Explores the psychological challenges of an adolescent hermaphrodite.

Flixster Users

81% liked it

3,353 ratings

Critics

79% liked it

39 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 26 min.

Directed by: Lucía Puenzo

Release Date: June 14, 2007

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DVD Release Date: October 14, 2008

Stats: 520 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (520)


  • November 22, 2009
    The only reason I'm sorry for, is that I didn't get to see this film when it came out two years ago. It was a powerful hit to the stomach, a film that is infused with subtle intensity, a movie about an unusual human drama. For me, this movie was about antitheses: prejudice vs. ac...( read more)ceptance, male vs. female, freedom vs. oppression, love vs. neglect, heart-break vs. fulfillment.

    The performances are simply brilliant, and although Argentinian cinema is one I'm the least familiar with, I was just proven that indeed the greatest movies don't require neither Hollywood nor billions worth of budget, nor happy endings.

    A most powerful film about humanity, sexuality, acceptance, growth and tragedy. I literally didn't want it to end. Lyricism that flies off the screen straight to the heart. No taboos, no restrains, no limits. Real cinema. At last a movie I can call a masterpiece.
  • August 11, 2009
    Amazing, intense, contained, just leaves you speechless. In my opinion, pure cinema.
  • January 29, 2009
    A wonderfully subtle film that, given it's subject matter, could have easily spilled over into sentimentality. One of the genius strokes is to have Alex, despite being a hermaphrodite, not being the most confused character in the film. She certainly has questions and doubts, but ...( read more)these seem more to put others at ease. Her existence has her parents questioning what to do and the boys she comes into contact with are also left with doubts. It's a film that blurs the lines for sex and sexuality and suggests that it probably doesn't matter what or who you are. The portrayals are all handled delicately and the scenery and cinematography combine to create a beautiful film. A film that says a lot despite the limited dialogue.
  • March 21, 2008
    It took me a while to see this one because I wasn't sure what to expect. I was excited about it and I bought it as soon as I found it but I kept waiting and waiting for the "right moment" to see it. I wish I hadn't wait.

    What I loved so much about this film (but apparently not s...( read more)o many people understood) is how it manages to be cute and fresh even with its "touchy" subject. After all, it's not a film about hermaphroditism but about growing up with a body (or mind, or soul) that sometimes doesn't feel like us at all and it's actually a strong metaphor for adolescence along with a statement about the limits and horizons of sex and sexuality. Between Martin Piroyansky (Alvaro) and Ines Efron (Alex), the performances are so realistic and true that it feels not as if you were part of their lives but as if you were THEM! I specially found myself in Piroyansky's eyes and soul and the character and the actor per se were heartbreaking all the time. Ines Efron's haunting performance ranks as one of the most beautiful character developments of the year but I still stick to Martin Piroyansky and his gorgeous character and performance. The rest of the "grown-up" cast is also magnificent but they are always shadowed by the two teen leads.

    Over all, the movie is technically flawless and the oh-so-Blue art direction is as beautiful as the story and screenplay. The music is haunting and subtle and the direction, by Lucia Puenzo, is fantastic. One of those directing jobs you can actually notice by seeing the movie.

    It's sad that many people will feel disturbed by the movie because it has, after all, an hermaphrodite character dealing with issues beyond her maturity level (the line "Who are you to tell me what's possible or not?" is simply wonderful) and the people surrounding her coming to terms with what's "normal" and what's not.

    The outstanding screenplay with witty dialogues full of sadness and lack of hope along with the two young lead actors (Efron and Piroyansky) and the art direction are the powerful tools this movie has to make an everlasting impression in everybody seeing it.
  • November 26, 2009
    Devastatingly cool film that forces the viewer to relate, in a number of different ways, to a hermaphrodite.
  • October 15, 2009
    06/10/09

    I really liked this movie.
  • October 12, 2009
    inés efron, mi amor.
  • September 29, 2009
    This is gonna be interesting as hell.
  • September 11, 2009
    Very subtle, yet extremely intense. Definitely a must-see.
  • August 24, 2009
    Este es el cine que da gusto ver: el que se atreve, el que experimenta, el que busca y el que encuentra. Se agradece sobremanera el tocar temas casinousados en la industria cinematografica, la cual, segun muchos, ya se esta agotanto. Pero no... siempre hay de que hablar; siguen e...( read more)xistiendo tabues en nuestros dias a pesar de que el mundo ya es "mas abierto". Esta es una opcion, y pese a quien le pese es una realidad. Dentro de todo, es bastante hermosa la metafora de que Alex viva al lado del mar, y que su cuarto tenga vista hacia el. Todos venimos del agua, todos venimos de algun lugar y al fin y al cabo, somos lo mismo... humanos.

Critic Reviews


September 5, 2008
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

It is not a message picture, never lectures, contains partial nudity but avoids explicit images and grows into a poignant human drama. full review

March 25, 2008
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

There's a secret at the heart of XXY, but the real mystery is why writer-director Lucía Puenzo insists on unnecessary symbolic gestures for a story otherwise told with delicacy, restraint, and maturity. full review

View more XXY reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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