Bertrand Bonello
Canada/France 2003 35mm 115min. french o.v.

Directed by Bertrand Bonello (The Pornographer), Tiresia brings the Greek myth of Thiresias – both a man and a woman blinded by the rage of the goddesses, then granted higher vision by the gods – into the present. In this updated version, Tiresia is an extremely beautiful Brazilian transsexual prostitute, sharing an illegal apartment on the outskirts of Paris with her brother. With his morbid, poetic ideals, Terranova falls madly in love with her and finding no other way to keep her for himself, he kidnaps her. Robbed of her daily hormonal fix, she begins changing back into a man. Unable to accept this, Terranova blinds Tiresia and leaves his now male lover/victim for dead in the woods. There he is found by the angelic Anna, who gives him a home. Without eyesight, Tiresia develops the ability to read fortunes and locals flock to him, offering gifts for his prophesies. That is until a priest, troubled by the presence of an oracle in his parish, pays Tiresia a visit. Skilfully weaving themes of identity, sexuality, religion and myth Tiresia a darkly compelling and intensely beautiful film. – KS