''Fitting In'' is a 2023 Canadian coming-of-age

comedy drama Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau ''dramedy'', is a genre of dramatic works that combines elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. The modern, scripted-television examples tend to have more humorous bits than simple co ...

film written and directed by Molly McGlynn. It stars Maddie Ziegler,

D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai D'Pharaoh Miskwaatez McKay Woon-A-Tai (born 19 September 2001) is a Canadian actor. He is best known for his role as Bear Smallhill in the FX on Hulu comedy-drama series ''Reservation Dogs'' (2021), for which he was nominated for a Critics' Choic ...

, Djouliet Amara, and Emily Hampshire. The film was titled ''Bloody Hell'' in its first showing at

SXSW South by Southwest, abbreviated as SXSW and colloquially referred to as South By, is an annual conglomeration of parallel film, interactive media, and music festivals and conferences organized jointly that take place in mid-March in Austin, Te ...

.Oddo, Marco Vito
"''Bloody Hell'' Review: Maddie Ziegler Struggles with Womanhood in Coming-of-Age Story"
'' Collider'', March 14, 2023; and Dunlap, Sage
"''Bloody Hell'' empowers with unique coming-of-age story"
''

The Daily Texan ''The Daily Texan'' is the student newspaper of University of Texas at Austin, the University of Texas at Austin. It is one of the largest college newspapers in the United States, with a daily circulation of roughly 12,000 during the fall and spri ...

'', March 16, 2023Bradley, Laura
"Maddie Ziegler's SXSW 'Traumedy' ''Bloody Hell'' Is Brilliant – With a Period Twist"
'' The Daily Beast'', March 18, 2023 Several additional film festival showings were presented in 2023. The film won the award for Best Canadian Film at the

2023 Vancouver International Film Festival The 2023 Vancouver International Film Festival, the 42nd event in the history of the Vancouver International Film Festival, was held from September 28 to October 8, 2023. Awards Winners of the juried Canadian film awards were announced on Octob ...

. It was released in theatres in February 2024.

Premise

The story centers around 16-year-old Lindy, who is diagnosed with a rare reproductive condition, MRKH syndrome. The diagnosis disrupts her understanding of womanhood and sexual identity, and throws her relationships with her new boyfriend, her friends at her new high school, and her mother into disarray.

Cast

Production

The film is semi- autobiographical, as its creator, Molly McGlynn, was diagnosed with MRKH syndrome as a teenager. In June 2022, the casting of Ziegler and Hampshire was announced. Principal photography took place in

Sudbury Sudbury may refer to: Places Australia * Sudbury Reef, Queensland Canada * Greater Sudbury, Ontario (official name; the city continues to be known simply as Sudbury for most purposes) ** Sudbury (electoral district), one of the city's federal e ...

, Ontario, from May 30 to June 27, 2022.

Release

The film premiered on March 13, 2023, under the title ''Bloody Hell'', in the narrative spotlight section of the

South By Southwest Film Festival South by Southwest, abbreviated as SXSW and colloquially referred to as South By, is an annual conglomeration of parallel film, interactive media, and music festivals and conferences organized jointly that take place in mid-March in Austin, T ...

Austin Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and largest city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 11th-most-populous city ...

, Texas.Harvey, Dennis
"''Bloody Hell'' Review: A Teen Sex Comedy Thrown a Curveball by Mother Nature"
''Variety'', March 14, 2023; and Saito, Stephen
"SXSW 2023 Review: A Dire Prognosis Opens Up Emotional Floodgates in Molly McGlynn’s ''Bloody Hell''"
''The Moveable Fest'',·March 14, 2023 Retitled ''Fitting In'', the film was shown at the

2023 Toronto International Film Festival The 48th annual Toronto International Film Festival was held from September 7 to 17, 2023.Victoria Ahearn"TIFF reveals new programmers and other 2023 festival details" '' Playback'', April 20, 2023. The most noted change from past years was tha ...

and the

2023 Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival The 2023 edition of the Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival, the 35th edition in the event's history, took place from September 16 to 24, 2023 in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten province ...

in Ontario, Canada, in September 2023, and at the

and the

2023 Calgary International Film Festival The 2023 edition of the Calgary International Film Festival, the 24th edition in the event's history, took place from September 21 to October 1, 2023 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The festival opened with ''Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life'', a d ...

, both beginning that month.

Blue Fox Entertainment Blue Fox Entertainment is a global distribution and film sales company founded in 2015 by Todd Slater and James Huntsman. In the spring of 2017, Blue Fox merged with independent film distributor, Level 33 Entertainment, led by Andreas Olavarria. ...

distributed the film in the US, with the theatrical release on February 2, 2024.

Elevation Pictures Elevation Pictures is a Canadian film distribution and production company founded in 2013 by Laurie May and co-led by Noah Segal. The company made its debut at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival. Distribution Since its debut in late 20 ...

distributed the film in Canada, with a release in theatres there also on February 2, 2024.

Reception

After its premiere at SXSW, Marco Vito Oddo, writing for '' Collider'', Sage Dunlap in ''

'', Laura Bradley in '' The Daily Beast'', Dennis Harvey in '' Variety'' and Stephen Saito in ''The Moveable Fest'' praised Ziegler's performance and the message of the film. In September 2023, Marya E. Gates in ''

RogerEbert.com ''RogerEbert.com'' is an American film review website that archives reviews written by film critic Roger Ebert for the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' and also shares other critics' reviews and essays. The website, underwritten by the ''Chicago Sun-Times' ...

'' did the same. ''Fitting In'' was a nominee for Best Direction in a Feature Film at the 2023 Directors Guild of Canada awardsMirza, Taimur Sikander
"Women Talking leads film nominees for 2023 DGC Awards"
''

Playback Playback or Play Back may refer to: Film * ''Playback'' (1962 film), a British film in the ''Edgar Wallace Mysteries'' series * ''Playback'', a 1996 film starring Shannon Whirry * ''Playback'' (2012 film), an American horror film by Michael A. N ...

'', September 20, 2023. and won the award for Best Canadian Film at the

.Gee, Dana
"Vancouver International Film Festival announces winners of this year's Canadian film awards"
'' Vancouver Sun'', October 5, 2023.

Awards

References

External links

*
Official US trailer
(2023)
Official Canadian trailer
(2023) {{DEFAULTSORT:Fitting In 2023 drama films 2023 films 2023 independent films 2020s English-language films 2020s high school films Canadian high school films Canadian independent films 2020s Canadian films Films shot in Greater Sudbury Canadian coming-of-age drama films Films about intersex