Girl (2018)

Last updated:
August 31, 2025

Directed by Lukas Dhont, Girl (2018) is a tender yet raw drama that follows the journey of a transgender teenager pursuing her dream of becoming a ballerina while undergoing gender transition. The film received widespread acclaim for its sensitive storytelling and powerful lead performance. Below is a deep dive into the movie, its ending, production, and the fascinating details surrounding it.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

Introduction: Meeting Lara

The story introduces Lara, a 15-year-old transgender girl, played by Victor Polster. She lives with her supportive father and younger brother in Belgium. Lara dreams of becoming a professional ballerina, but she faces the double challenge of strict dance training and the physical, emotional, and social struggles of transitioning.

The Ballet School Struggles

Lara is accepted into a prestigious ballet academy, where she strives to keep up with the other students. The intense training tests her body to the limit, and the pressures of fitting in push her emotional boundaries. Her father supports her wholeheartedly, and the film emphasizes the love and bond within the family, a refreshing contrast to many stories of transgender teens.

Medical Transition and Growing Tension

Parallel to her dance journey, Lara is undergoing hormone therapy and awaits gender confirmation surgery. She struggles with her body image, becoming increasingly frustrated with the pace of her physical transformation. The juxtaposition of ballet—a discipline obsessed with the body—and her dysphoria amplifies her internal conflict.

Breakdown of Control

As the stress mounts, Lara becomes more withdrawn and consumed by the desire to accelerate her transition. This desperation builds toward the film’s harrowing climax.

Movie Ending

The ending of Girl is both shocking and heartbreaking. Lara, overwhelmed by frustration with her body and the long waiting process for her surgery, takes drastic measures. In an unflinching and deeply distressing sequence, she attempts to perform her own genital mutilation.

She is rushed to the hospital, where doctors save her life. The film closes with Lara recovering, her father by her side, filled with love but devastated by what she has endured.

The ending is deliberately ambiguous in terms of her future. It leaves the audience questioning whether Lara will ever reconcile with her body, but it also emphasizes her determination and resilience, highlighting the immense challenges faced by transgender youth.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Girl does not have a post-credits scene. Once the movie ends, it allows the raw emotional impact of Lara’s final act to linger without distraction.

Type of Movie

Girl is a drama and coming-of-age film with strong elements of psychological intensity. It falls under the arthouse category, favoring realism and intimacy over spectacle.

Cast

Victor Polster as Lara
Arieh Worthalter as Mathias (Lara’s father)
Oliver Bodart as Milo (Lara’s younger brother)
Kathelijne Damen as Dr. Naert
Valentijn Dhaenens as Dr. Pascal

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Valentin Hadjadj. The music is subtle, atmospheric, and minimalist, designed to underline Lara’s fragile emotional state rather than dominate the narrative.

Filming Locations

Girl was shot primarily in Belgium, especially in Ghent and Brussels. The use of local ballet academies and authentic Belgian urban settings adds realism to the story, grounding Lara’s struggles in a world that feels tangible and close to the audience.

Awards and Nominations

Caméra d’Or (Best First Feature) – Won at Cannes Film Festival 2018
Un Certain Regard Best Actor – Victor Polster at Cannes 2018
Golden Globe Nomination – Best Foreign Language Film
Multiple wins at European Film Awards and Belgian film awards

Behind the Scenes Insights

Lukas Dhont spent years researching the story, interviewing transgender people and consulting medical professionals.
Victor Polster, though not transgender, trained extensively in ballet to portray Lara authentically.
The film sparked debate regarding the casting of a cisgender actor in a trans role, though Polster’s performance was widely praised.
Some scenes were toned down from the original script to avoid exploitation, but the final product still sparked controversy for its rawness.

Inspirations and References

The story was inspired by the real-life journey of Nora Monsecour, a transgender ballerina in Belgium. She worked closely with the filmmakers to ensure authenticity, though she later expressed mixed feelings about how some scenes portrayed her experience.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

No officially confirmed alternate ending exists, but early drafts reportedly offered a more hopeful closure rather than the self-destructive act shown in the final cut. Some critics speculated that Dhont chose the darker ending to emphasize the urgency of trans struggles and mental health awareness.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The film is not based on a novel, but rather on Nora Monsecour’s true story. Unlike a book adaptation, the film compresses years of her life into a short timeline, amplifying certain dramatic events for cinematic effect.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

Lara practicing ballet until her feet bleed, symbolizing both her determination and self-destruction.
The dinner table scene with her father, where his unconditional love becomes painfully clear.
The devastating climax where Lara harms herself.

Iconic Quotes

Lara’s father: “You don’t have to prove anything to me. You are my daughter.”
Doctor: “This takes time. You must give your body patience.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

The mirror imagery throughout the film emphasizes Lara’s obsession with her body and her fractured self-image.
The ballet performances are symbolic: her struggle to achieve “perfection” mirrors her internal fight to align body and identity.
The recurring use of silence in place of dialogue highlights Lara’s isolation and inability to voice her pain.

Trivia

The film was Belgium’s official submission to the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.
Lukas Dhont was only 27 when he directed the film, making him one of the youngest winners of the Caméra d’Or.
Victor Polster had never acted before Girl; he was primarily a dancer.

Why Watch?

Watch Girl if you want a powerful, emotionally gripping drama that explores identity, ambition, and resilience. It is not an easy film, but it is thought-provoking, visually delicate, and deeply human.

Director’s Other Movies

Close (2022) – Academy Award-nominated coming-of-age drama
L’Infini (2014) – Short film
Corps Perdu (2012) – Short film

Girl (2018)