Mystère Alexina (1985) User Reviews

"He's a boy...almost"

[evening1 · 7/10 · 12 July 2023]

His parents must have realized his sex at birth, but chose to ignore it. And, in years of modest convent life, Alexina was able to keep his masculinity a secret.

It's only in early adulthood, after taking a job at an out-of-the-way girls school, and sharing a bedroom with the lovely Sara (Valerie Stroh), that Alexina (Philippe Vuillemin) can no longer hide the truth.

However, in mid-19th century, rural France, the muffled sighs of love won't stay quiet forever, and it isn't long before rumors and condemnation separate the lovers.

Alexina shows a lack of neuroticism about his situation, and chooses to do the honorable thing, telling Sara: "I'll become a man. We'll have a proper wedding, and then we'll go away." Even if he must depart for the New World, "you'll join me," he says. "I'll wait for you."

Everything ends tragically in this based-on-reality account of the life of Herculine-Adelaide Barbin. Along the way, it's interesting to observe Alexina's harshness toward a student who has copied a classmate's work and lied about it. After all, Alexina was cribbing a female lifestyle and cloaking the truth. Also intriguing is workman Armand; we can guess at what fuels his interest in the new teacher on the grounds.

This film makes a good companion piece to "Every Body," a documentary about three US intersex people with physical characteristics traditionally attributed to both males and females. In addition, imdb has recommended Argentina's "XXY" (2008), now on my watch list.

Ahead of its time

[dbdumonteil · 8/10 · 12 November 2005]

"Mystere Alexina" is a highly underestimated movie.Although it is a true story,the facts it depicts were risqué and its plea for the right to be different has a contemporary feel.René Féret's directing was certainly influenced by that of Robert Bresson,but he occasionally shows a certain warmth which the master never allows himself.

Circa 1850: Alexina who spent her youth in a completely female world (a convent,then a training college)becomes a schoolteacher in a small village.She feels she's different.She does not have her periods.Worse,she falls in love with her colleague (a woman of course).Pretty soon,they become lovers ,as Alexina feels more and more the man in her/him.But one of their pupils (it recalls Wyler's "the children's hour";the difference is that here it is a true rumor) reveals their

relationship.Alexina loses her job and has a physical exam.It would seem that she is an hermaphrodite.There's the rub.The nineteenth century society is not prepared to accept such a "monster" .Victor ,"the wild child" (see Truffaut's movie) was not dangerous for the society-he had appeared earlier in the century- because he was sexless and not really clever.

Alexina wants to marry her/his lover.But the world in which she lives is still dominated by religion and puritanism.The biology lesson is revealing:when she tells her pupils about the frog reproduction ,Alexina does not mention that the male inseminates the eggs (and however it happens in the water).An impressive scene shows Alexina driven out of the confessional by the priest after she's told him the "truth".

Philippe Vuillemin gives a cesar-caliber performance.He is absolutely mind-boggling :even more credible as a woman!

Give this movie a chance!It deserves it!

Philippe Vuillemin: Not only an artist but also a good actor.

[FilmCriticLalitRao · 8/10 · 13 February 2008]

If ever serious viewers would like to remember one of René Féret's most personal films "Mystère Alexina",it would definitely be for the acting prowess of French comic strip artist Philippe Vuillemin.He is absolutely incredible as the lead character who is confused about his/her sexuality.Philippe Vuillemin is so good that he outsmarts easily acting abilities of other actors especially that of Valerie Stroh.For this film René Féret has taken us to medieval times.Those were the times when French society,like most of the other societies was prudish in nature.In a way,this film is a serious take on sexuality in ancient times which was fiercely guarded.One of the most important questions raised by this film concerns ignorance about sexuality.It must be ascertained whether human sexuality can be dissimulated.Science comes to rescue when religious authorities are challenged to stake a claim about lead character's sexuality.For a film which might appear as a sensual love story to many viewers it is quite an achievement to minimize its risks of achieving an easy to please end.This is precisely the virtue of this film directed by one of French cinema's most under rated authors.