Girl
A determined teenage dancer confronts the painful collision of transition, ballet discipline, and an urgently desired sense of self.
Overview
A young dancer's journey to self-acceptance unfolds against the backdrop of a demanding ballet school.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- intimate
- empathetic
- tense
- reflective evening
- arthouse film night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's empathetic direction, visual storytelling, and Victor Polster's performance while debating its handling of trans embodiment, nudity, and self-harm.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Lara's pursuit of professional ballet intensifies her distress over a body that does not conform to her ambitions and identity.
The film relies heavily on close visual attention to Lara's body, ballet movements, puberty, and gender dysphoria.
Lara's private frustrations, medical encounters, family support, and ballet-school pressures are presented with close emotional focus.
Lara's determination to become a ballerina makes technical mastery and femininity feel like intertwined forms of self-actualization.
Films like Girl, and why
Tomboy
shared intimate coming-of-age drama, transgender identity themes, and compassionate attention to adolescent self-discovery
The Miseducation of Cameron Post
shared lgbtq coming-of-age perspective, restrained realism, and focus on gender identity during adolescence
Black Swan
shared ballet-centered bodily discipline, artistic ambition, and psychologically intense performance drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Lukas Dhont
- Release Date
- 2018-09-18
- Runtime
- 105 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (781)
Cast
- Victor Polster
- Arieh Worthalter
- Oliver Bodart
- Tijmen Govaerts
- Katelijne Damen
- Valentijn Dhaenens
- Magali Elali
- Alice de Broqueville
- Alain Honorez
- Chris Thys
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Girl about?
- A determined teenage dancer confronts the painful collision of transition, ballet discipline, and an urgently desired sense of self.
- What is Girl like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Girl as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Girl violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Girl as mild.
- What did critics think of Girl?
- Critics broadly praised the film's empathetic direction, visual storytelling, and Victor Polster's performance while debating its handling of trans embodiment, nudity, and self-harm.
- Which films are like Girl?
- Films with a similar feel include Tomboy, The Miseducation of Cameron Post, and Black Swan.
- How long is Girl?
- Girl runs 105 minutes.
- Where can I watch Girl?
- In United States, Girl streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
