The Trans Men and Women Searching for a Place to Belong

This week, we introduce a new writer to the Cinelandia roster, Kiko Martinez, a Mexican-American film critic and journalist based in San Antonio, Texas. In his first contribution to the newsletter, Kiko focuses on stories about the transgender experience in Honduras, Mexico, and New York City. In advance of the international premiere of "Soy Mario" ("I Am Mario”) at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), he interviewed the director and star of the fiction drama. He also shares two movie picks to watch at home and in theaters. 🎥 🍿

Happy Watching,

— Vanessa

Eva (Endry Cardeño), a transgender woman and matriarch of her household in Honduras, steps up to take care of her newborn granddaughter after her daughter-in-law dies during childbirth. Struggling to connect with his baby daughter, Eva’s estranged son, Gustavo (Jancel Romero), plans to leave for the U.S. as Eva pushes him to take responsibility as a father. Their fragile relationship strains under years of unresolved conflict. Together, Eva and Gustavo must confront their differences, navigate their grief, and find a way to rebuild their family around a child who has unexpectedly brought them back together. The film’s intimate close-ups of Eva and Gustavo let their expressions and silent moments convey the pain they both feel.

Playing on October 2 and 4 at AFI Latin American Film Festival in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Tina (Carlie Guevara), an undocumented transgender woman living in New York City, works hard to save money for her transition. Raised by her grandmother, Eliana (Miriam Cruz), Tina faces the harsh reality of her immigration status. When a trans woman from her neighborhood becomes a victim of a hate crime, Tina joins a transgender advocacy group and finds the courage to speak out. In scenes depicting the women’s activism, filmmaker Flavio Alves places the camera within their circle, surrounding the audience with their voices and making their collective strength feel immediate.

Streaming on Amazon Prime and other digital platforms.

— By Kiko Martinez

For Mexican filmmaker Sharon Kleinberg, making her directorial debut with the drama “I Am Mario” (“Soy Mario”) was an opportunity to help audiences better understand the complexities and nuances of the transgender experience.

In the fiction feature, Kleinberg tells the story of Mario, a 40-year-old transgender taxi driver living in urban Mexico, who unexpectedly becomes pregnant. With the chance to fulfill his dream of becoming a father, Mario must face his beliefs about his own masculinity and how a pregnancy could change his sense of identity.