As a society, we are becoming more aware of others around us than ever, and our media is slowly adapting to show this. People born with an intersexual body is something not many - if any - films and televisions shows have gone near. Director Patricia Ortega’s Venezuelan film ‘Being Impossible’ is one of the first to tackle the topic head-on.
Ariel (Lucia Bedoya) is starting to experience pain in her private areas, and her sick mother (Maria Elena Dugue) tells her not to worry. After some digging, she learns that she was born intersexual. When she was younger, her family had her go through several "correction" surgeries to make her conform to a female body. Now, she has to find her identity all over again.
'BEING IMPOSSIBLE' TRAILER
The film is quite raw and confronting, from intense nudity to some very graphic sex scenes. However, while this is at times uncomfortable to watch, they lack emotional resonance. The film lacks any kind of connection to its characters, and while Ariel’s discovery is highly emotional and life-changing, you never feel that connected to her story.
Where the film thrives is in the support group scenes. A gathering of both transgender and intersexual people are in a room talking about their experiences and the times they have been discriminated against. It’s shot, at times, almost like an interview from a reality TV show. These is really where the heart of the film is, and where most of the emotional residence lies.
The strongest aspect is the conversation the film begins. Intersexual people are not something that is heavily discussed, nor understood by a huge section of society. For this reason, the film should be celebrated and talked about, even if it’s not as strong as it wants to be.
The strongest aspect is the conversation the film begins. Intersexual people are not something that is heavily discussed, nor understood by a huge section of society. For this reason, the film should be celebrated and talked about, even if it’s not as strong as it wants to be.