Monica

2023

1h 53m

IMDb RATING

5.6/10

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7 Videos

15 Images

Drama

After years of estrangement, a trans woman returns home to help care for her dying mother.

Directors

Andrea Pallaoro

Writers

Andrea Pallaoro(writer by)

Orlando Tirado(writer by)

Stars

Trace Lysette

Patricia Clarkson

Emily Browning

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Videos7

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Trailer
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Featurette
Watch MONICA - Q&A | Andrea Pallaoro & Patricia Clarkson | Film Independent Presents
Featurette
Watch Cast and Director Q&A for ‘Monica’
Featurette
Watch Film Independent Presents MONICA Q&A
Featurette
Watch MONICA Q&A with Patricia Clarkson, Trace Lysette and More
Featurette
Watch Trace Lysette on MONICA

Top cast

Monica

Eugenia

Laura

Paul

Leticia

Car Repairman

Man Getting Massage

Woman at Gas Station

Benny

Benny

Britney

Brody

Doctor

Waitress

Trucker

Mechanic

Hairdresser

Bar Patron (uncredited)

Directors

Andrea Pallaoro

Writers

Andrea Pallaoro(writer by)

Orlando Tirado(writer by)

All cast & crew

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Trace Lysette is quite effective here as the eponymous woman who returns to her family to help care for her terminally ill mother "Eugenia" (Patricia Clarkson). She's a trans woman, is "Monica", and it's been more than twenty years since she left. Needless to say, there are adjustments a-plenty to be made by all concerned, and given the imminence of the impending demise, the story gains an added potency putting things and erstwhile priorities into sharp new perspective. Gradually we discover that the scenario of estrangement wasn't caused they way we might have expected, and as the narrative develops we realise that lives have been traumatic for all concerned over the intervening decades. What's also pretty clear from the outset is that "Monica" has self-esteem issues, and the near constant references to her friend "Jimmy" whom we never meet does make you wonder of he is real or a place to put her soul - but I doubt both. What does rather let this down badly is the pace and the standard of the writing. It's a slow burn, but that needn't have mattered if the dialogue could have been a little more considered and punchy. As it is, I found it developed in an almost languid fashion. That's not to say that at times it's not poignant, and there are some very emotional scenes between mother and daughter, and between sister and brother (Joshua Close) that cut very close to the bone. Though it's essentially a story about acceptance - and it's not just the trans elements that require that - it's about a family coming to terms with loads of errors of judgement and rash decisions that with just a slightly more assured and focused hand at the tiller, could have delivered much better.

Geronimo196724 Dec, 2023