Arianna

Director: Carlo Lavagna
Italy, 2015, BluRay, color, 84’

Arianna was born three times: once at the beginning of her life, again a few years later as a little girl, and once more at age 19. Director Carlo Lavagna's first feature tells the story of a young woman who, as she becomes more aware of her body and sexuality, also becomes more aware that something may be amiss.

Arianna spends a great deal of time comparing herself to other girls her age—she has to wear a hormone patch to help the development of her breasts and, hopefully, bring on her first period. After telling her parents to leave her behind at her childhood lake house over the summer to study, that's exactly what Arianna does: She studies her body, her strengths and weaknesses when it comes to her sexuality, and even investigates her medical records to solve the mystery of herself. Lavagna's belated coming-of-age film is a gentle and introspective look at the subject of intersexuality and the emotional isolation one woman faces on her journey of self-discovery.