Watch 52 Tuesdays

52 Tuesdays is a 2013 Australian drama film, directed by Sophie Hyde and starring Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Sam Althuizen, and Imogen Archer. The film follows the story of 16-year-old Billie and her mother, Jane, who decide to spend every Tuesday together for a year after Jane decides to undergo gender transition surgery. The film opens with Jane announcing her decision to transition and Billie struggling to come to terms with it. Therefore, Jane decides to move in with her sister, sending Billie to live with her father during the week and spending time with her only on Tuesdays.

The film follows the mother and daughter's journey through different phases of their lives for one year on every Tuesday, documenting the changes in their relationship as well as the difficulties they both face in their separate lives.

Throughout the film, Billie faces many issues of her own, such as struggling with her own sexuality and exploring her identity. She begins to experiment with drugs and sex with her friend Josh, who is not aware of her mother's gender transition. Jane, on the other hand, is going through her own struggles dealing with the effects of her transition on her family and her own personal life.

Sophie Hyde has cleverly portrayed the story to show how the two characters try to establish and understand their new identities and rebuild their relationship during the process. Billie, who has been dealing with her own doubts and fears about her gender and identity, takes this opportunity to understand her mother's situation, and both mother and daughter learn to build an understanding and acceptance of each other.

The film is a modern and innovative take on the mother-daughter relationship genre, with the camera used as a tool to further explore the story's themes. The filming approach is unique, with each shot being handheld and lasting one minute, providing the viewer with the sense of immediacy and intimacy with the characters.

Tilda Cobham-Hervey delivers an outstanding performance as Billie, portraying the character's turmoil and confusion about her mother's transition and the exploration of her own sexuality with conviction. Sam Althuizen also gives a remarkable performance as Josh, reflecting his character's innocence and vulnerability, creating a compelling and emotional dynamic between the two teenagers.

Imogen Archer, playing Jane, induces vulnerability and sentimentality into the character, making her a nuanced and realistic portrayal of a person in transition.

The film's soundtrack is notable, with stunning contemporary music underscoring its character's emotional journeys. The music includes "New Theory" by Washed Out and "Youth" by Daughter and provides the perfect accompaniment to the film's visual storytelling.

52 Tuesdays is a beautiful, thought-provoking film that seamlessly integrates complex themes of gender identity, family dynamics, and teen angst without relying on cliches or stereotypes. It offers a moving and honest portrayal of the trials and challenges that modern families face and offers a powerful representation of identity and gender.

In conclusion, this film is an extraordinary and remarkable accomplishment. It offers a nuanced portrait of young people dealing with their own identity crisis, managing the impact of their mother's transition, and the subtle complexities of family dynamics in the 21st century.

52 Tuesdays is a 2015 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 49 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4 and a MetaScore of 71.