ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION INFORMATION

Cinematographer Braier, Natasha

Film Editor Primero, Hugo

Film Editor Zito, Alex

Music Goldstein, Andrés

Music Tarrab, Daniel

Producer Morales, Jose María

Producer Puenzo, Lucía

Production Design Samuelle, Roberto

Screenwriter Puenzo, Lucía

Sound Soldevila, Farnando

Production Company Historias Cinematográficas

Production Company Pyramide Productions

Production Company Wanda Vision

Principal Cast Bertucceli, Valeria

Principal Cast Darín, Ricardo

Principal Cast Efron, Inés

Principal Cast Palacios, Germán

Principal Cast Peleritti, Carolina

Principal Cast Piroyansky, Martín

DESCRIPTION

TIFF NOTE

The case of Manitoba-born David Reimer has always haunted me. After a botched circumcision, doctors convinced his parents to raise David as a girl, starting him on a long and arduous road of operations and therapy. He didn't identify as a girl, however, and in his early teens was finally told the truth. David started living as a man, but the wounds were too deep and he eventually committed suicide at the age of thirty-eight. The case underlines the fact that gender identity is hardwired into the brain and not merely learned. It is also an excellent example of why forcing people to be something they are not is a bad idea. XXY, Lucía Puenzo's accomplished debut, explores the painful search for gender identity of Alex (an outstanding performance by Inés Efron), a hermaphrodite, as she enters adolescence and is pressured by her parents to "choose." Alex's ambiguity is painfully apparent. She is forced to think about having her penis removed when her parents invite a surgeon to their home in an isolated area of the Uruguayan coast. He comes to visit with his wife and son, Álvaro (Martín Piroyansky). Alex and Álvaro strike up a friendship, and it soon emerges that they are equally confused and curious about sex, sexuality and gender. At the same time, they are obviously much less confused and fearful than their parents, whose prejudices often unknowingly hurt their children. Alex's father, Kraken (Ricardo Darín), is the only adult who tries to understand the difficult choice facing his child, and the only one who grasps the true nature of Alex's relationship with Álvaro. Gracefully shot, including many scenes on deserted beaches, XXY tastefully explores its subject matter with as little adornment as possible - silences and atmosphere communicate much. The film's most astonishing trait is its openness and lack of judgment as it tackles this difficult, emotional topic. Moving and forceful, XXY virtually demands that people be given freedom of choice in a tolerant and understanding atmosphere.

FESTIVAL PROGRAMMING HISTORY

TIFF CINEMATHEQUE PROGRAMMING HISTORY

TIFF YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMMING HISTORY

SUBJECTS

RELATED RECORDS

FRL-84058 research file