Review: 'Metamorphosis' Explores an Intersex Teen's Life with Sensitivity and Grace

Writer-director Jose Enrico Tiglao's film "Metamorphosis" explores the story of a Filipino teen named Adam (Gold Azeron) who, bullied at school for being a "faggot," is actually intersex. As his body develops, Adam's life becomes more confusing; fistfights with the class bully are one thing, straightforward as they are, but when a new student named Angel (Iana Bernardez) arrives, Adam's feelings are all over the map.

It doesn't help that his religious parents (Ricky Davao and Yayo Aguila) have turned to a doctor for help, and the doctor seems to be suggesting that the medically appropriate course of action will be to make Adam definitively female. "Doc, I'm a boy!" Adam protests, but it doesn't seem as though anyone is listening – certainly not his father, whose belief that it's God's will for Adam to become female aligns a little too conveniently with his personal preferences for how to handle the situation.

Tiglao treats the story with respect and sensitivity, though a few of the metaphors he's working with are a bit too blunt (if the theme of the film wasn't communicated by the title, there are some scenes involving butterflies to help you comprehend it). The film fearlessly explores questions of gender and sexuality, and gives Adam a voice as he ponders what it means to be – as one doctor diagnoses him –�a "true hermaphrodite." (Adam wonders whether he's going to be labeled as gay not matter who he's attracted to.) The film is just as delicate when it comes to Angel discovering Adam's secret; indeed, Angel has secrets of her own.

A blend of realism and compassion, medical accuracy and even religious compassion make this film an illuminating glimpse at an area of gender and sexuality that most people know nothing about.

"Metamorphosis" screens as part of NewFest.