In 2018, the winner of the Camera d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, Lucas Dont, made a spectacular entry into the world of cinema with Girl, his first film. This drama tells the story of Lara, a 15-year-old transgender teenager who dreams of becoming a prima ballerina. For this story, the director was inspired by the true journey of Nora Monscur, a young student at the Royal Ballet School in Antwerp, male at birth.
To embody the hero of his film, the filmmaker turns to Victor Polster, a real dancer, who takes his first steps in front of the camera here. If an actress is already familiar with the discipline, she must train for three months to learn to dance on pointe, a technique mainly reserved for girls.
By bluffing, the actor gives his body and soul to his interpretation. More than a coming-of-age film, Girl is a sensitive story about the entwined relationship between a girl and her father, willing to do anything to allow his son to transcend society’s norms and pursue his dream.
After its coronation at Cannes, the feature film will be singled out by the LGBT+ community. Some have criticized Lucas Dont for approaching the issue.voyeurism” and conveying the worst clichés about the transgender experience, namely questioning a key scene in the film.
Victor Polster in the movie “The Girl”.
Nora Monskuri, the main stakeholder on whom the film is based, has publicly disagreed with the critics. in the interview IndieWireHe explains:This sequence is a metaphor for the dark and suicidal thoughts that take over, which is what I experienced..”
He continues: “He is crucial in the film. Around me I met young people who killed themselves. And this is not a movie, this is reality. People kill themselves because they cannot accept themselves.“
The film is also subject to censorship when acquired by Netflix for broadcast in the United States. The American platform cut several scenes due to the nudity of the main character. The director and producer, locked in with the already signed contract, have no choice but to comply with their demands. In France, Girl is shown in its original version.
Lucas Dont’s Girl is available on Netflix.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
