The film, a coming-of-age story from Iceland, didn’t make a strong first impression. The initial scenes were unsettling because of some very realistic, harsh images, which led me to believe I would dislike it. However, that feeling quickly faded; the disturbing imagery was limited to the beginning, like a small flaw in an otherwise beautiful presentation. Soon after, the story shifted and centered on two friends and …

Am I wrong? Should I feel sorrow? I am unlike others, and it’s truly mortifying. I experience emotions, I attempt to express myself, I cherish things, and offer smiles. My female companions resemble their mothers, my male partners mirror their fathers, I share traits with our parents, a blend of both mother and father figures. Sometimes I feel like a girl, I respond…