‘Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe’ Movie Masterfully Handles the Book’s “Transphobia” Controversy

The anticipated movie adaptation of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, the beloved teen romance novel is finally hitting the big screen. And with it comes a masterful answer to a controversial scene from the source material.

Written and directed by Aitch Alberto, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is an adaptation of Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s 2012 novel of the same name. The story takes place in 1987 and follows two Mexican-American teenage boys in El Paso, Texas as they strike an unexpected friendship that quickly blooms into something deeper.

Newcomers Max Pelayo and Reese Gonzales star as the title characters, alongside Verónica Falcón, Kevin Alejandro, Eva Longoria, and Eugenio Derbez in supporting roles. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who recorded the audiobook for the novel and its sequel, produces and makes a voiceover cameo.

Over time, the award-winning novel has garnered a passionate fanbase – many of whom have been closely following the release of the movie since its world premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival. And while the book’s reception has been mostly positive, it has stirred some controversy in the past. Spoilers for Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe beyond this point.

The book and author have been accused of being “transphobic” by some readers, citing a scene in the novel where Aristotle reveals to Dante that his brother, Bernardo, murdered a “transvestite.” These readers were mostly disappointed by the use of outdated language given that, in current times, the chosen word is considered to have a negative connotation. 

Sáenz also repeatedly misgendered and deadnamed Alberto, a transgender filmmaker, throughout the early days of the movie process. Though, he expressed his apologies to his followers and Alberto, at the time. “I deleted the post. I would like to apologize for any offense or hurt I caused. I am truly sorry,” he wrote on social media. Additional screenshots show that Sáenz would often block readers who brought these issues to him.

Last year, Alberto responded to a negative comment on social media, which read, “Seeing too many people reading Ari and Dante, like did we forget the book literally has transphobic elements and the author is an actual transphobe?” The filmmaker responded, “Hey love. I’m trans and I adapted and directed. Let’s sit with that for a little. Sending you so much love.” Alberto has also shared her love for Sáenz throughout the release process with photos and stories of the support he has given her. Most recently, she shared a picture of their reunion in Washington, D.C., while doing press for the movie’s release.

Decider reached out to the movie’s press team for an interview or comment regarding the specific scene, but did not hear back by the time of publication. Therefore, let’s dive into the nitty gritty ourselves. 

Around the one-hour mark of the movie comes the scene where Aristotle informs Dante that his parents have told him details about his brother’s crimes, which have landed him in jail. The scene is an emotional turning point for Aristotle, a quiet and angry type, who has long sought answers about his brother to no avail from his parents. Dante, who tends to be more emotional and sociable, is away in Chicago at the time and has been staying in touch with Aristotle over the phone and through lengthy letters. 

A voiceover of Dante and Aristotle on the phone plays while Aristotle stares at an old image of him and his brother. Dante asks, “Is everything okay?” and Aristotle replies, “I asked them… I asked them about my brother… He was just 15, looking for trouble, so, uh, he picked up a prostitute.” Dante stays quiet as Aristotle continues the story. “He was a… trans… trans…” he begins to say before trailing off. “Yeah, I know what you mean,” Dante offers. “My brother went ballistic and killed her with his bare hands,” Aristotle finishes before ruminating that he understands why his parents “kept it a secret.”

The movie’s depiction of the scene introduces several differences from the novel, in which the conversation occurs in person between the two. The book also refers to the victim as a “transvestite” with masculine pronouns, per Aristotle’s recount. 

While the level of offense in the original text is debatable given the time period of story and the personal experiences of the author, Alberto proves herself to be a masterful creator with the adaptation, which welcomes and gives space to an entirely new demographic within the Aristotle and Dante community. Through her subtle changes, the filmmaker transforms the specific scene into one that’ll leave viewers wincing for the correct reason – the taking of an innocent life – rather than as a response to the aggressive language. 

On a bigger note, the care and attention applied to the scene is proof of the importance of diverse storytelling, which remains at the heart of Sáenz and Alberto’s works. While Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe through each other, viewers will find themselves doing the same through this faithful adaptation. 

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is currently playing in theaters.