Niñxs

A tender and intimate story about what happens when you hand over the power to tell a story to someone who longs to be seen and accepted exactly as she is. In the magical town of Tepoztlán, Mexico, fifteen-year-old Karla takes us on a journey through her identity, self-discovery, and coming of age.

Niñxs turns the conventional transition and coming-of-age narrative on its head. Director Kani Lapuerta allows her protagonist, Karla Bañuelos, to transform the film into a kind of cinematic diary. The joyful and revelatory result is the culmination of eight years of trust and connection between Karla and the director — a relationship that breaks down the conventional divide between “documentarian” and “subject” and allows them to become equal co-authors of the film.

Supported by her friends and parents — a former punk couple — Karla decides to legally transition, but still has to confront prejudice in a predominantly conservative society in a small, isolated town. When asked what she would like audiences to think about while watching the film, Karla answers that she simply wants them to laugh. If that can be taken as a measure of success, Niñxs achieves it wholeheartedly. The film demonstrates the urgent need for queer and transgender stories about self-discovery and the exploration of one’s identity at every age.