Lingua Franca (2020)
Coming as the newest celebration of diversity from ARRAY Now, Isabel Sandoval's Lingua Franca follows the experience of a woman named Olivia who not just has to deal with the ups and downs of the trans experience, but also that of being an undocumented immigrant trying to meet ends meet in New York City. Being a film that is directed/written/starring a trans WOC, Lingua Franca not only deserves respect and attention as a legitimate showcase of diversity on and off the screen, but also deserves attention as a captivating drama with a haunting depth to it.
So much of this power and emotional resonance comes from Isabel Sandoval's screenplay which strikes with a powerful honesty. The cross section between immigration status and the trans experience has rarely been discussed in film to the level it is within Lingua Franca. Similar to the exploration of the the relationship between class, race, and sexuality in Moonlight, the film not only is a fresh perspective but also one of an honest perspective. There is a real weight behind the film knowing that it is capturing a truth that individuals have to live with and the pain that can come from their identity. The film also is bold with its political identity weaving in actual audio of Donald Trump and his statements on topics such as immigration. This choice greatly helps ground the film in the context of the modern real world making it very clear where it is directing the blame for its pain and struggles
Where the screenplay directs the message of the film, it is the performances which bring it to life. Isabel Sandoval gives a tour de force performance that floors the audience with its authenticity. There is simultaneously a great power yet emotional vulnerability within her as she has to stay strong in a situation she is largely powerless against. Yet the character also isn't defined by their pain. The film is careful to maintain her status as a living human being which even in stress can find the joy of life in love and happiness. Not only is this effective at making the character feel realistic but it also makes the character all the more tragic. Seeing a character at their best makes it all the more painful to see them at their worst. This is a philosophy the film clearly understands and uses to its fullest. The plot is far from just focusing on Olivia however, there is an entire cast of captivating characters the film attempts to capture to mixed results. Where each character has interesting depth behind them, the film simply cannot fully capture all the nuance and layers of their stories in its 90-minute runtime. Because of this, the thesis the film finds when it comes to its side characters can feel disappointing and the actual narrative of the film can jump around a bit too much. If the film had even an extra 20-minutes, it could have benefited greatly and really allowed the film to let its plot unfold fully and naturally.
Lingua Franca is undoubtedly a film worth checking out. With strong performances and writing, the film is an undeniably impact experience that captures a honest and meaningful perspective that is sadly not represented enough. Being widely available on Netflix in a slower release week, for those who can please give Lingua Franca a chance and support diverse voices like Isabel Sandoval who continually give meaningful voices and perspectives a platform to be expressed and seen.
Lingua Franca is undoubtedly a film worth checking out. With strong performances and writing, the film is an undeniably impact experience that captures a honest and meaningful perspective that is sadly not represented enough. Being widely available on Netflix in a slower release week, for those who can please give Lingua Franca a chance and support diverse voices like Isabel Sandoval who continually give meaningful voices and perspectives a platform to be expressed and seen.