Ma Vie En Rose, an effective, moving treatise on gender issues, does a fine job illustrating the quandary of contemporary sexuality; for starters, its protagonist is a child. A seven-year-old boy (Georges Du Fresne) believes he is a girl trapped in a boy's body, and that in due time God will rectify this "scientific" error. His parents at first put up with his cross-dressing and love of dolls, but when it becomes apparent that his fascination with dresses, make-up, and other boys is no mere stage, the family is tossed into a hypocritical frenzy of concern, conflict, and contempt. Because his options (leaving home, defending his lifestyle) are limited by his age and inexperience, Du Fresne has no choice but to endure the ridiculing neighbors and his own frustrated family as tensions come to a head. Filmed with an eye for bright colors and the twisted world of suburban life, Ma Vie En Rose marks the auspicious feature debut of Belgian director Alain Berliner, who provides a fresh approach to the familiar coming-out story. He also incorporates inventive fantasy sequences (a la Heavenly Creatures) that give the viewer a glimpse of a fascinating, garish world in which Du Fresne "travels" to escape the mounting pressures of real life. Yet despite the flashy special effects and comical moments, Ma Vie En Rose is a drama of the highest order, a compelling portrayal of the turmoil of adolescence and the effects of homophobia.