The Mystery of Alexina (1986)

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 bishops physician After the church and court rule on her petition marriage to Sara becomes Alexinas sole purpose and hope