The Belgian film “Girl,” on Netflix, is among the most lived-in transgender portraits to hit the screen, which doesn’t mean it arrives without controversy. The captivating Victor Polster, who is not transgender, provides the lead performance, which has prompted arguments about his casting. The movie’s provocative denouement is thorny and a little shocking.

If, however, you can tune out even a little of the background noise, you’ll find an immersive, empathetic film that speaks the language of tolerance without getting preachy. Shooting mostly with hand-held cameras and relying on the intimacy of the performances, the director Lukas Dhont probes his protagonist’s mind through bold naturalistic style that brings to mind the Dardenne Brothers (and also emulates their signature tracking shots).

[Read about the controversy, over a film that some have called “dangerous.”]

That protagonist is Lara, a teenager in the process of making the transition from male to female. Lara, blessed with perhaps the most woke dad in film history, has a dream of becoming a ballerina. She is accepted by a prestigious dance academy as the film opens, but there are no secrets here: Students and faculty know who she is and who she’s been. “Girl” wisely disposes of “will they find out?” questions in favor of psychological depth and verisimilitude.