Day 7: XXY

Alex’s (Inés Efron) mother invites a couple and their son to her home in Uruguay. The father is a surgeon and the reason for their visit is so he can meet with Alex in order to decide upon an operation that will alter Alex’s genitals. I’m confused about the title of the film as XXY is associated with Klinefelter syndrome, while what Alex appears to be (given frequent descriptions of “having both”) is intersex. Although I am woefully uneducated about both Klinefelter syndrome and intersexuality so I wouldn’t put any stock in my confusion. It’s not an important point though as the story is less about technicalities and more about relationships.

Kraken (Ricardo Darin), Alex’s father, is hostile towards the surgeon because his presence is unsettling for Alex and he says he has always seen his child as “perfect”. There seems to be problems brewing between Kraken and Suli (Valeria Bertuccelli), Alex’s mother; Kraken wants Alex to have complete control over what might happen, while Suli seems to be pushing for a determining surgery. When Alex was born the doctors wanted to operate right away but Kraken wanted to wait until Alex could choose. At 15 that time seems to be approaching. In order to understand whether he made the right choice in waiting he visits a man who had similar experiences. He says that his first memories were of operations where doctors castrated him, giving Kraken hope that he made the right choice. Alluding to what he must have gone through he tells Kraken, “Making her afraid of her own body is the worst thing you can do to your child.” It’s important to be accepting and not teach her to fear the differences in her body from others she may come across.

Alex and Alvaro (the surgeon’s son) form a relationship during his stay. In most films the sexual relationship between the two would be pulled apart in order to be labelled (gay, straight, etc) but here it’s not given the same treatment. The importance isn’t placed on the genitals or gender of either but on the connection the two share. Alvaro’s father is distant and cold toward him so this connection is significant for him but Alex is highly emotional because of the pressure put upon her so their time together is tense. Alvaro and his parents leave when it's clear Alex does not want the surgery. People in her town are slowly finding out about her but she doesn't care, she is accepting of who she is and she has the support of her family behind her.

The story itself was an interesting one and the acting was great. Pacing was a tad on the slow side (but I realise it wouldn't have worked otherwise so that's a minor issue) and I probably wouldn't watch it again but I still enjoyed it.

8/10