Butterflies are seen throughout J. E. Tiglao’s Metamorphosis, a gentle drama that draws you in with its patience and how the character relationships differ from similar stories of gender and identity. Tiglao’s film is entirely unique in that it is an intersex coming-of-age tale when the LGBTQIA+ market is starving for a story like this. It aches with a warmth of confusion and self-discovery.

Adam (a remarkable Gold Azeron) spends his school days fighting back against bullies who use homophobic slurs and his time at home rushing through dinner with his pastor father and sweet mother, Edgar and Elena. When he spends time alone, he focuses on honing his drawing skills. Quite suddenly, Adam begins menstruating and doctors reveal that he is intersex. Puberty is already hell for every teen, but when you add another element to the equation, it is overwhelming for anyone.

Two people come into Adam’s life almost at the same time. Angel is a new student in Adam’s class and she represents an age that he wants to fast forward. They share an intimacy around the idea of being outsiders and their relationship goes to unexpected places. Adam’s physician, Dr. Abraham, provides him with more confusion when Adam finds himself physically drawn to him.

Adam finds himself stuck in a gender limbo as he awaits to hear back from his doctors as they observe the situation from afar. He questions who he is and what his sexuality might be and how others perceive him. There are quiet moments of intensity as Adam is alone, exploring his body in front of a mirror and you wonder how we have never seen a story like this told with such delicacy and truth. One character tells him, “it’s like having everything” but it’s easy to say that when you are seeing it from the outside.

Metamorphosis is an organically told story about the constant struggle to find your place in a world that doesn’t know how to define you.

~ Joey Moser