Toronto, Ontario – In her latest film, “Fitting In,” filmmaker Molly McGlynn explores a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story that delves into the challenges faced by teens navigating unexpected health diagnoses. The film features Maddie Ziegler and Emily Hampshire in lead roles, as it follows 16-year-old Lindy’s journey to understand and cope with a diagnosis of MRKH Syndrome.
Ziegler portrays Lindy, who is contemplating having sex for the first time with her boyfriend, Adam. However, her plans become complicated when a routine visit to the doctor results in an unexpected diagnosis of MRKH Syndrome. McGlynn, who herself is diagnosed with the reproductive disorder, draws inspiration from her own experiences and the impact her single mother’s battle with breast cancer had on her.
Throughout “Fitting In,” Lindy grapples with her identity and sexuality while facing the challenges posed by MRKH Syndrome. The film highlights Lindy’s experience of being given a set of dilators as part of a “vagina bootcamp” aimed at “fixing” her body and allowing her to live a “normal” teenage life. McGlynn emphasizes that the script goes beyond her own story and incorporates contemporary elements, such as the influence of social media and the exploration of different perspectives.
While Maddie Ziegler gained recognition through her appearances on the reality show “Dance Moms” and in music videos for Sia, her performance in “Fitting In” showcases her genuine and captivating portrayal of Lindy. McGlynn describes Ziegler as graceful yet fierce, someone who understands what it feels like to be different from those around her.
To bring authenticity to the film, McGlynn took an inclusive approach when working with the cast. She encouraged the actors to bring their own perspectives to their characters. Hampshire’s character, Rita, is based on McGlynn’s mother, while the portrayal of intersex character Jax was tailored to suit the actor Ki Griffin’s personal experience.
The film also addresses intimate moments, with the presence of an intimacy coordinator on set to ensure the actors’ comfort. McGlynn’s focus is on Lindy’s emotions and facial expressions during medical examinations rather than solely on the technical aspects. The director wanted to depict the emotional impact and potential trauma involved in such intimate experiences.
“Fitting In” draws inspiration from McGlynn’s own life, highlighting the importance of accurately portraying reproductive anomalies and personal identity. McGlynn acknowledges that while MRKH Syndrome is sometimes included in the intersex classification, not all individuals diagnosed with MRKH identify with that label. She emphasizes the need for inclusivity and the understanding that words are important, but they are just words.
While exploring Lindy’s emotional journey, “Fitting In” also incorporates dark humor, creating a truly engaging and entertaining story. McGlynn believes that humor is often intertwined with the truth and serves as a coping mechanism. Her objective was to make an entertaining film that both informs and entertains the audience.
“Fitting In” is now showing in theaters, offering an insightful and entertaining exploration of identity and self-acceptance amidst unexpected challenges.