Girl (2018 film)

Girl is a 2018 Belgian drama film directed by Lukas Dhont, in his feature film debut. The film follows Lara, a 15-year-old transgender girl assigned male at birth who is pursuing her dream of becoming a professional ballerina. She attends a prestigious ballet school while also undergoing hormone therapy to transition.

The film explores themes of identity, gender dysphoria, the physical and emotional challenges of transitioning, and the pressures of perfectionism. Lara struggles to reconcile her physical body with her gender identity and the demanding world of ballet. The story depicts the frustrations and difficulties she faces as she navigates adolescence, her transition, and the intense demands of her chosen profession.

Girl premiered at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Caméra d'Or for best first feature film, as well as the Queer Palm. Victor Polster, who plays Lara, won the Un Certain Regard Award for Best Actor. The film was selected as the Belgian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.

While the film garnered critical acclaim for Dhont's direction and Polster's performance, it also sparked controversy regarding its portrayal of transgender experiences and the potential for reinforcing negative stereotypes. Critics argued that the film relied too heavily on tropes of self-harm and dysphoria, and that a cisgender actor was cast in the role of a transgender character.