Mati (Sophie Stockinger) is one of the boys. She can outdrink, outdrive and outsmart the best of them, but as sexual tensions rise it becomes clear they don’t see it that way, and Mati is forced to go on a journey of self-discovery that, until now, she had done all she could to avoid.

Stockinger plays the part with expert precision – simultaneously brimming with anger at the role society has given her, and deeply uncomfortable with the way it causes those around her to act. She is short-tempered and quick to violence, but this prickly exterior is as much for defence as attack, and hides a deep insecurity that Stockinger manages to express in even the most fleeting scenes. The rest of the cast are equally impressive, in particular Jack Hofer as Sebi, the wannabe love-interest whose inability to express himself results in some of the film’s most poignant, engaging moments – aided, in no small part, by Bernard Fleischmann’s excellent, electronic infused score. The club scenes in particular deserve special mention, conveying a sense of raw, unthinking aggression that perfectly reflects the lead characters’ toxic mindset.

In addition to Mati, the film also follows the story of her parents’ unhappy marriage. Her father (Dominik Warta) takes refuge in gay chatrooms, her mother (Kathrin Resetarits) knows about it, but can’t bring herself to confront him. Though never reaching the same emotional heights as Mati’s story, it’s nonetheless an interesting diversion, frequently acting as a mirror to many of the events occurring in the main plot.

There’s the occasional misstep: the musical sequence towards the end feels abrupt and out of place, a surreal, cartoonish moment in an otherwise very grounded story. The film also ends abruptly, leaving certain plot threads feeling unfinished. It’s not a deal-breaker by any means, but seems a shame when the rest of the film is so polished. L’ANIMALE is a sincere, unflinching tale of a young woman grappling with her identity, bolstered by a likable cast and impressive direction. Despite stumbling at the final hurdle, it remains engaging, hard-hitting and full of heart.