Both (2005) User Reviews

An important movie that will change minds, maybe lives

[Shuggy · 8/10 · 6 June 2006]

This was on at our GLBT film festival, but it's not exactly a GLBT film - even though it has some "hot lesbian action" (relevant to the plot).

Bisexual but frustrated movie stuntwoman Rebecca in San Francisco is sent some photos of her brother Pedro, who died in their native Peru soon after his third birthday - or so she was told. But there are no photos of the two of them together. Rebecca is determined to find out why. Her gay colleague turns down another friend as a surrogate mother for him and his partner because the friend's child Morgan is intersexed - and she is raising Morgan unmodified to be whoever they will be. Rebecca's search takes her to the children's hospital where her brother died, but when she is told the surgery was successful and she sees his records, the pieces start falling into place. The arrogant doctor's name is Silver. (Dr John Money, anyone?)

It's not perfect: Morgan's mother's speech about leaving Morgan to make up their own mind what sex to be is a bit pat, and a car crash near the end may or may not have happened, for no apparent reason. But this is a powerful and well-constructed movie. It certainly has a point of view - Rebecca's. Her shock and horror as she finds out the truth about herself, and her hapless mother's denial and excuses, are vividly communicated. The great-aunt who sets the whole thing off is a little gem.

Lisset Barcellos : a new voice in the domain of Peruvian cinema

[FilmCriticLalitRao · 6/10 · 6 August 2008]

Both is one of the most interesting,strange,bizarre,outstanding films about bisexual people.Many adjectives have been used to define this film as no single adjective can do justice to describe how the film has been structured.Lisset Barcellos' film is a touching tale of a Hollywood based stunt woman Rebecca who is troubled due to her body structure.As she decides to investigate the truth about questions surrounding her sexuality,she is unwittingly forced to open a can of lies,deceit and cover-up.What she is able to find at the end of her dogged investigation not only reassures her but also gives hope to a lot of inter sexed people.Both is based on real life experiences of Lisset Barcellos.It is a brilliant film which exposes the complicity of families who,owing to a doubt about inherent sexuality of their wards,deny their children to choose their form of sexuality in order to lead happy lives.Both is a co-production between USA and Peru.A good reason to watch Both is that it talks of alternative sexuality.

If only...

[mltubio · 3/10 · 1 April 2006]

This movie is simply bad, what else could I say? There are lots of worse movies though. That's why I give it a 3 instead of a 1. The only interesting thing about this movie is the topic, a woman who realizes she was a hermaphrodite baby when she was born. There could have been an interesting plot, potentially, but unfortunately, it is not the case.

Imagine that your grandfather, a technician, was asked to write a script about this topic. "Both" is what you would get. Obvious conversations, obvious stereotypes (the protagonist is a "latina"), obvious everything, obvious ending.

The masturbation scene is particularly "interesting" (not really), for all those men who wonder how women masturbate, this is such a terrible example! It made women laugh out loud.