MONICA is a serious film that deals realistically with thoughts about the transgender world, grief, and finding your way home. It is a deep dive of heavy, heartbreaking moments.
The film is an emotional success due to the brilliant performances from Trace Lysette as MONICA and Patricia Clarkson as Eugenia, her mother. Their scenes together were raw, authentic, and sometimes painful to watch. They were fearless in allowing the anguished silences to lead them down a path without redemption. It was the quiet moments in between the cries that touched my heart. There were times I just wanted to hold them both in my arms.
MONICA is not easy to get to the end, but the journey was worthwhile. The film didn’t have any happily ever after scenes, but glimmers of acceptance and forgiveness gave me hope. It was a slow burn that required patience and determination. MONICA was an intimate, moving, restrained, and extremely delicate story. It is available on Prime Video.
