XXY

Alex is a 15 year old who lives as a girl, but inside she carries a sense of being male that becomes harder to ignore as adolescence collides with curiosity and desire. The family notices clues and questions his or her identity, while peers react with confusion and cruelty. A neighboring teenager's advances force a sharp moment where questions about gender, body, and belonging erupt into a tense family conversation. What follows is a quiet examination of loyalty and love under pressure, as Alex and the adults around her try to navigate a future that might not fit neatly into any one box. The film avoids easy answers, instead watching carefully as trust is tested and self discovery unfolds gently.

Directed by Lucía Puenzo, XXY is an Argentinian drama adapted from a story by Sergio Bizzio. The film marks Puenzo's breakout feature, presenting a bold coming of age tale conveyed through a restrained, intimate aesthetic and fearless performances by actors.

The film grossed 2,728,869 dollars worldwide, a respectable figure for an intimate Latin American drama. Its earnings reflect a measured release strategy and strong word of mouth among art house audiences across several countries. Gains were strongest in Latin markets.

XXY is widely noted for bringing intersex representation into mainstream Argentine cinema with sensitivity and nuance. It sparked conversations about gender identity within families and communities, and earned attention at festivals for presenting a young person's experience without sensationalism. Critics often cite its humane portrayal as its strength and clarity.

Critics praised XXY for its restrained, honest portrayal of adolescence and gender identity within a close knit family. The performances, especially by Ines Efron and Ricardo Darin, were highlighted as conveying ambiguity and empathy without melodrama, while the screenplay explored secrecy, acceptance, and the pressures of social norms and expectations.