Film

The Mystery of Alexina

1985 · 1h 26m · Drama

IMDb

6.3

In 1856, fresh from life with nuns in an orphanage school, Alexina Barbin comes to a coastal village in La Rochelle to teach the village girls. She is deeply religious. She shares the classroom and a bedroom with the young and vivacious Sara, with whom she falls in love. Alexina has another secret: her gender is mysterious. She and Sara begin a scandalous love affair, but Alexina seeks marriage and social acceptance. She discloses her secrets to the village priest, to her mother, to the bishop, and to the bishop's physician. After the church and court rule on her petition, marriage to Sara becomes Alexina's sole purpose and hope.

Philippe Vuillemin

Alexina Barbin / Camille Barbin

Valérie Stroh

Sara

Véronique Silver

Madame Avril

Bernard Freyd

Armand

Marianne Basler

Marie Avril

Pierre Vial

Priest

Philippe Clévenot

Doctor Chesnet

Isabelle Gruault

Josephine

Lucienne Hamon

Hotel manager

Claude Bouchery

School inspector

Olivier Sabran

Doctor

Michel Amphoux

Hotel manager

Anne Cornaly

Alexina's mother

Vincent Pinel

A doctor

• René FéretDirector · Screenplay
• Jean GruaultScreenplay
• Anne-Marie DeschampsOriginal Music Composer
• Ariane BoeglinEditor

Release date

September 25, 1985

Status

Released

Original language

French

Runtime

1h 26m

Rated

NR

Genres

Drama