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Cast
Philippe Vuillemin
as Alexina Barbin / Camille Barbin
Valérie Stroh
as Sara
Véronique Silver
as Madame Avril
Bernard Freyd
as Armand
Marianne Basler
as Marie Avril
Pierre Vial
as Priest
Philippe Clévenot
as Doctor Chesnet
Isabelle Gruault
as Josephine
Lucienne Hamon
as Hotel manager
Claude Bouchery
as School inspector
Movie Info & Details
Release Year1985
Runtime1h 26m
LanguageFrench
CertificationNR
GenresDrama
Votes10
DirectorRené Féret
WritersJean Gruault, René Féret
TypeFeature Film
Rating4.5 out of 10
Cast10 credited
Also Known AsThe Mystery of Alexina
About The Mystery of Alexina
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.
Directed by René Féret, The Mystery of Alexina leans on a strong ensemble — Philippe Vuillemin, Valérie Stroh, Véronique Silver — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1985.
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