A Fantastic Woman

The “other woman” in a man’s life is treated disdainfully by her lover’s family when he suddenly dies. While that might sound like the plot of a 1940s tearjerker, it’s given a modern twist in Sebastián Lelio’s Oscar-winning Chilean film: the protagonist is a transgender woman, who is played triumphantly by trans actress Daniela Vega, in a remarkably subtle, refined performance. In the initial scenes, Marina (Vega), who sings at a club in Santiago, enjoys a birthday celebration with her older lover, Orlando. But when he suffers a fatal aneurysm, she is shabbily treated by doctors, police, and—most brutally—Orlando’s family. Orlando’s obnoxious son orders Marina to leave his father’s apartment, and Orlando’s ex-wife not only demands the return of his car but tries to convince Marina not to come to the funeral. Offered a portion of his ashes as compensation, Marina dismisses this suggestion, and the rest of the film follows her efforts to achieve closure, despite the mental anguish and threats of physical intimidation she faces. Ultimately, music is able to provide a degree of consolation that she cannot find elsewhere. All of this is emotionally affecting, especially given the combination of strength and vulnerability that Vega brings to the title role. Recommended. (F. Swietek)