After her family moves to a new town, young Laure, an adolescent girl, played by Zoe Heran, decides to reinvent herself as Michael (“Mikel” – this is a French film), a tough sporty young man.  Laure conceals the reinvention from her parents, young sister Jeanne, and her new friends.  As Laure endeavors to fit in with the local youths she is able to flawlessly convince them that her external persona is legitimate.  Through water fights, truth or dare, soccer, and other activities, Laure and her youthful compatriots build relationships that most adults are not often privy too.  Of course, the dark secret looms, slowly unravels, and then Laure is left confused, embarrassed, and with no clear path forward. 

For a majority of audiences, I have to assume that Laure’s predicament is foreign at best, but that may only be my perception.  Is Laure’s mindset more common amongst young children?  Is this something that both she and those who can relate grow out of?  For Laure, dressing and acting like a boy was normal and comfortable – until of course it all fell down.  Why should anyone assume that Laure would gravitate toward what I considered normal and comfortable when her feelings do not align with the norm?  It’s an interesting question and one that I had never really put a lot of thought into – and I’m guessing I’m not alone.  Gender confusion is just what it sounds like, confusing, and nothing is different about that from a roughly 9-10 year old's perception.