Fitting In is one of the most honest coming-of-age movies to be made in recent memory.
As Lindy (Maddie Ziegler) heads into her sophomore year of high school, social tensions are rising. She has a boy that she really likes, named Adam (D’Pharoh Woon-A-Tai) and is starting to get more serious with. What’s more, she and her best friend, Viv (Djouliet Amara) are gunning for Varsity Track and Field positions in sprinting. Her newfound pursuits are then tripped up by a long-awaited visit to a gynecologist as she and her mom (Emily Hampshire) are concerned she has not gotten her period… ever. It turns out that Lindy doesn’t have a uterus and has a shortened vaginal canal, immediately disrupting her relationship with Adam and isolating her from Viv (who she thinks is already sexually experienced). Seeking someone to talk to, Viv starts to talk to Jax (Ki Griffin), a nonbinary acquaintance. Even so, she struggles to talk about this with anyone, creating a weight that continues to push her into anxiety-provoking situations.
Fitting In is one of the more impressive sophomore features to come out this year and at the helm is Montreal-born Canadian filmmaker, Molly McGlynn. Fitting In showcases her ability to write very real and very relatable scenes for teenagers. She doesn’t hold back from the emotions or the awkward nature of adolescence but neither does she make these moments trivial. Many adult directors have difficulty capturing authentic teenage dialogue but McGlynn showcases an extraordinary talent to do so. She truly has one of the most specific and accurate voices, especially when it comes to portraying teens in the 2020s.
Fitting In is playing at TIFF ’23. For more information, click here.
