As suggested by its title, XXY, a feature debut of Argentine filmmaker Lucia Puenzo, tells the story of Alex, an intersexual teenager who was born with both sexes. After leaving the city and settling in a small fishing town to protect Alex from medical scrutiny, her parents realize that they have to make a choice for her future when she arrives at puberty. When a surgeon visits them with his wife and son Álvaro for examination, Alex gets confused and tries to have a sex with Álvaro. Despite their good intentions, Alex’s parents cannot be sure what’s best for their daughter. Alex and Alvaro fall into identity crisess and try to protect themselves from the turmoil. Set in a seaside village captured in grey-toned long shots, the film delicately approaches the sensitive mind of Alex and brings an empathic approach to her sexual confusion without any voyeuristic curiosity. By doing this, Puenzo makes her quiet statement that it might be a denial of one’s being to push Alex to choose one sex in the name of normalization. In the beautiful scene where Alex, Álvaro and Alex’s best friend Vando and his girlfriend sit together on the seashore, Puenzo clearly shows her thoughtful understanding of Alex, who can never be sure which sex she must choose. (CHO Hye-young)