FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD Lara cannot wait to be a girl. She has left behind her life as Victor and moved to a new city with her father and brother. She wants to pursue her dream to become a ballerina. Her father Mathias and other family members are supportive, but she feels that her transition into womanhood is taking longer than expected. She punishes her body against the advice of the medical team that is preparing her for the sex reassignment surgery.
Lara has enrolled in a prestigious ballerina school and is facing pressure to make up for the classes she has missed. Her classmates, although accommodating, are not exactly friendly. The excruciating dance lessons, coupled with poor eating habits and anxiety, are taking a toll on her body.
Girl, which stays away from any Boys Don’t Cry scenarios, is inspired by the real-life story of Nora Monsecour, a trans dancer. The movie won the Camera d’Or for the best feature film at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, and was the Belgian entry in the best foreign language film category at the 91st Oscars. It is an empathetic look at a person whose only desire is to be a girl.
Directed by Lukas Dhont, Girl relies much on the captivating performance of Victor Polster (who is not a transgender). He manages to capture the vulnerability, longing and distress of a teenager trapped in the wrong body.