Filipinos have steadily been taking on the global stage for years now. A couple of weeks ago, a Filipino film student was awarded a BAFTA grant. Even earlier than that, Marvel debuted its first ever Filipina superhero and will be following up with another one after just a couple of weeks.
This time, Lingua Franca, a film about a transgender immigrant, is among the 11 competition entries that will premiere at the Venice Film Festival’s Venice Days section. Venice Days is an independent sidebar that runs parallel to the main festival. It showcases works from independent and blossoming filmmakers. According to a report by Variety, Lingua Franca is the only U.S. entry set to compete in the section.
Isabel Sandoval as Olivia | LinguaFrancaFilm.com
According to the film’s website, Lingua Franca is about an undocumented Filipino transwoman who works as a caregiver to an elderly Russian woman in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. When she runs out of options to attain legal status in the US, she becomes romantically involved with the woman’s grandson in pursuit of a marriage-based green card.
According to Balitang America, the filmmakers feel that this film is especially relevant in this Trump-era political climate where marginalized groups are given less and less breathing space.
The film stars Isabel Sandoval, a transwoman herself, who is also the screenwriter and director. It is produced by three-time Tony Award and Grammy Award winning Broadway producer Jhett Tolentino as well as Carlo Velayo and Darlene Malimas.
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