A Fantastic Woman

(Una Mujer Fantástica)

104 minutes

Spanish

Chile
Germany
Spain
USA

Marina and Orlando are in love and planning for the future. Marina is a young waitress and aspiring singer. Orlando is 20 years older than her, and owns a printing company. After celebrating Marina’s birthday one evening, Orlando falls seriously ill. Marina rushes him to the emergency room, but he passes away just after arriving at the hospital. Instead of being able to mourn her lover, suddenly Marina is treated with suspicion. The doctors and Orlando’s family don’t trust her. A woman detective investigates Marina to see if she was involved in his death. Orlando’s ex-wife forbids her from attending the funeral. And to make matters worse, Orlando’s son threatens to throw Marina out of the flat she shared with Orlando. Marina battles the very same forces that she has spent a lifetime fighting just to become the woman she is now – a complex, strong, forthright and fantastic woman.

starring...

Daniela Vega

Marina

Francisco Reyes

Orlando

Luis Gnecco

Gabo

Aline Kuppenheim

Sonia

Nicolás Saavedra

Bruno

Amparo Noguera

Adriana

Director

Sebastián Lelio

Screenplay

Sebastián Lelio, Gonzalo Maza

Cinematography

Benjamín Echazarreta

Music

Matthew Herbert

Production Design

Estefania Larrain

Editor

Soledad Salfate

Producers

Sebastián Lelio, Gonzalo Maza, Juan de Dios Larraín, Pablo Larraín

86% on the CINEMETER

ATL

82% - Jan 28, 2018

Heart-breakingly beautiful. Though I feel I've seen similar stories, this felt singular and unique. And just so beautifully shot.
Atlanta Member

This movie humanized the transgender experience--showed feelings, and angst, and deep emotion from the inside out. She was a fantastic woman who happened to be transgender. I thought this movie was exceptional!
Atlanta Member

The pain, heartache and harshness of being different. Each generation expresses its insecurity and prejudice so that it can scapegoat someone else.
Atlanta Member

Once again we see the theme of grief. This time from the unique perspective of a transgender person. This was done with sensitivity and compassion. Very touching film. Bravo!
Atlanta Member

Daniela Vega was good. Supporting cast was excellent. The film did allow/provide a portrait of humanity that would be normally foreclosed from this viewer. Which is why cinema is so moving and important.
Atlanta Member

Beautiful. Thank you for a movie about gender that is so much more than about genitalia. How ironic that a system to protect can also hurt as in the criminal justice system. I loved the artistry of the movie.
Atlanta Member

Other people imply Marina is not a "normal" human, but they they are the ones who lack humanity. The movie doesn't turn away from her suffering, but it doesn't make their cruelty so sensational that we dismiss it as simply movie melodrama. Daniela Vega evokes so much empathy for Marina's exxperience. I found this a very moving character study. And I'm glad she got her dog Diabla back.
Atlanta Member

STL

91% - Feb 4, 2018

A fitting story for our world today when gender has become so fluid. Terrific acting. Interesting story. Sometimes confusing story: ex-wife's storyline about length of marriage and son's age, psychedelic scenes, locker room scene, ownership of dog at the end. Wonderful musical score.
St. Louis Member

Great camera work--loved the darkness that occurred periodically throughout the film. Incredible actress. So wonderful to see a powerful film with a transwoman. Marina a multi-faceted actor-mysterious, cautious, sensitive. Incredible wind storm-fighting through that's symbolic of her continued fighting.
St. Louis Member

Every line, every scene was crucial to establishing the humanity of this woman. More than entertainment, this is a lesson on a life. Thank goodness the envelope was lost. To find it would be so Hollywood.
St. Louis Member

Powerful, mysterious and haunting. Daniela Vega's Marina is a truly "fantastic woman." She combines smoldering sensuality, great physical strength-and vulnerability. Sebastian Lelio's direction and screenplay are superb. Setting, weather, etc. are themselves amazing. Alfred Hitchcock's suspense mashed up with Almodovar's magic realism. Francisco Reyes as Orlando is a rock solid presence.
St. Louis Member

Counteracts prejudice against transgenderism in a tender fashion. Repetitive flashing lights of red, yellow, etc. used in the film signifying "danger, be aware; stay alert." Those who face prejudice must feel they must always be alert. Also the use of reflections in windows and mirrors, showing the 2 sides of each of us, the ying-yang. A beautiful story. A beautiful character. Beautifully etched. Unforgettable. A love remembered.
St. Louis Member

This is an important film because it says, "I am here, and I am able to STAY here because I love."
St. Louis Member

Lovely humanist story-part mystery and challenges of dealing with grief after a real romance and love affair. Sad that so many people are so obtuse and unfeeling. Love is love is love.
St. Louis Member

MIL

93% - Feb 4, 2018

Fantastica! Remarkable film with a stunning performance by Daniela Vega.
Milwaukee Member

Done very well. Acting is very good. A little slow but thought provoking.
Milwaukee Member

Powerful!
Milwaukee Member

Moving story and performances. Daniela Vega deserves an Oscar!
Milwaukee Member

The title says it all. This is a fantastic film with a fantastic actress about a fantastic woman!
Milwaukee Member

Milwaukee Member

84% - Jan 28, 2018

This film let us “walk a mile” in Marina’s shoes. How sad to feel threatened every time you leave the house. Hopefully someday soon it won’t be this way.
Greater New Haven Member

Powerful. Struck me at the heart, and few movies do this to me. Created enormous empathy for Marina, with the recognition of the cruelty and insensitivity around her.
Greater New Haven Member

Great performance, in a film that doesn’t flinch from a complicated situation. Trusts the audience to make the journey.
Greater New Haven Member

A beautiful film that left you guessing not about Marina, but about their relationship. The music was fantastic.
Greater New Haven Member

BOS

89% - Jan 28, 2018

What a movie! It was so well done! Thank you for sending it our way
Boston Member

An excellent movie, a serious topic handled with a great deal of sensitivity and insight.
Boston Member

Very moving! (many times, along with "Very Powerful:). We see a human in all the complexities.
Boston Member

I thought this film was incredible. So well acted and beautifully filmed. Brilliant
Boston Member

What a terrific movie!
Boston Member

An incredibly beautiful and poignant film. Daniela Vega did a magnificent job. My opinion is this should take best film overall Oscar!
Boston Member

88% - Jan 28, 2018

Dreamlike, mysterious, seemed to ask the question of whether gender actually matters?
Washington, DC Member

Excellent film. Very sensitive portrayal of a transgender person. Extremely well paced. A good choice for the Cinema Club given the current intolerance coming to the forefront in our society.
Washington, DC Member

I did not like the movie’s first 10 minutes. I probably would not have normally stuck it out - or even have gone to see it in the first place. But I am so glad I saw this wonderful, sensitive, amazing movie. Thank you!
Washington, DC Member

Daniela Vega’s performance carried the movie with aplomb. Great close ups! The most touching farewell to a beloved’s corpse ever portrayed. A real wow! Transcendent.
Washington, DC Member

What an effective device - it put us inside the “heart and head of a woman” and then reveal the cruel ways a lover/partner can be treated because of their sexual orientation. And after it all to have us see Marina triumph.
Washington, DC Member

The complex sadness portrayed by Marina transcended language. The music was also great and I especially liked the use of the song “Natural Woman” - it made me smile!
Washington, DC Member

85% - Jan 28, 2018

The most poignant sustained portrayal of grief on several levels that I have seen. Deeply touching.
San Francisco Member

Stunning, amazing. A fantastic woman and a fantastic movie.
San Francisco Member

A beautiful portrait of the dignity of being different.
San Francisco Member

The strength of the film is in the universality of Marina's experience, not the uniqueness of the transgender angle.
San Francisco Member

Once again it takes a foreign film to portray a complicated story in a thoughtful way without sensationalism. The acting of Daniela Vega drew me into the story and the challenges she faced. Sadly it shows how quickly society can dismiss the authenticity of trans relationships.
San Francisco Member

Good discussion afterwards revealed a greater richness to the complexities of the trans issues - and how seemingly random or artificial plot devices were very well constructed.
San Francisco Member

What a woman! I should have such integrity and dignity! A totally moving film.
San Francisco Member

BOCA

78% - Feb 4, 2018

Difficult subject very well done
Boca Raton Member

A fantastic film in all regards, and what a performance from Marina! This was such an emotional experience for me--I really felt for this character and his/her situation.
Boca Raton Member

A disturbing yet thoughtful look at discrimination in today's world and far away we are from acceptance,
Boca Raton Member

Very moving and beautifully related yet upsetting. This film was a new introduction to this kind of topic.
Boca Raton Member

Sony Pictures Classics