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Parents' Guide to

Girl

By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Drama about transgender dancer has nudity, bullying.

Movie R 2019 109 minutes
Girl Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

  • Girl Movie: Scene #1
  • Girl Movie: Scene #2
  • Girl Movie: Scene #3

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What's the Story?

Lara is the title's Girl, born into a male body but identifying as female. At 15, poised to begin a course of female hormones in preparation for surgery, she lives in Belgium with her supportive father, Mathias (Arieh Woltholter), and 6-year-old brother, Milo (Oliver Bodart). They are doubly supportive in that they've uprooted themselves so that Lara can attend Belgian's best dance school, where she can improve her technique in the quest to become a ballerina. A team of doctors are preparing her for transition, including a therapist encouraging her not to put off living until she has the body she wants, advice that seems both supportive but also oblivious to Lara's discomfort. A guy in her new building catches her eye, and although she's still ashamed that her body doesn't match her identity, she pursues a sexual encounter that results in her giving him oral sex and then running away. Either one of the twin stresses in her life -- impatience for completing her transition or feeling inadequate as a dancer -- could wear down the strongest teenager. Together they bring her to a breaking point that results in self-injury. What the future holds for her remains undisclosed.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (2 ):

Based on the true story of a ballerina named Nora Monsecour, the film is a riveting tribute to the courage of a young person undergoing the slow and difficult process of transition. Victor Polster, a cisgender male (born male and identifying as male), was cast as Lara for his resemblance to the dancer and for his acting and dance ability. Audiences should know that some in the transgender community have complained that Girl didn't cast a trans actor for the role, and that with its emphasis on body image, it's exploitive rather than representative.

Politics aside, Polster is moving and believable enough to make this feel at times like a documentary in which the audience has been invited to watch the transition process step-by-step. This may be jarring and discomforting for some but heartening and encouraging for those in the same position who are experiencing social backlash and have less supportive and encouraging parents. The movie takes pains to explore the ways in which simply being a dancer, surrounded by mirrors and unyielding body ideals, can set a youth on a path of body image pathology. Sensitive performances are given by all. The film was nominated for a Best Foreign Film Golden Globe and won the Camera d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how difficult it would be to feel trapped in the body of a gender that doesn't feel right. How do you think it would feel to know it would take medicine and surgery to allow you to be at home in your own body?

  • What do you think of the girls who bully Lara into showing her genitals? Why do you think they do it? Why do you think Lara relents after saying no so many times?

  • Why do you think people exclude those who are different? Do you think it comes from fear of the unknown? Or something else? What do you think people might be afraid of? Do you think racism and other kinds of hatred are also fear-based?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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