By Mikki
As a kid, Monica couldn’t hide the fact that “he” was a girl. Eventually, her mother took her to the bus station and sent her on her way, telling her, “I can no longer be your mother.” We learn this, as it isn’t shown. It’s good we never hear her dead name.
Monica gets a call as the film starts. It’s from her sister-in-law telling her that her mother is dying from a brain tumor and asking her to come home from California. Monica decides to return home (we aren’t told where she’s going). This will be the first time her mother or brother has seen Monica.
Monica is very low-key about introducing herself to her mother, who wonders who she is. In addition to her family, the mother has a Latina caregiver. It’s clear early on that Monica has considerable love for her mother. She’s very attentive and caring with plenty of touching.
So, will she tell her mother? Will her mother figure it out? I'll give you a bit of a spoiler -- Monica’s brother, after getting over the initial shock of seeing his sister, sees the loving care and warms up to Monica. Will Monica fit/be welcomed into the family? Do we think she'll eventually move back to California?
Trace Lysette does a wonderful job and as always, Patricia Clarkson knocks it out of the park. Everyone in the post-film discussion had positive things to say about the film except for the “Too slow’ comments.
I highly recommend the film.
(You can view the film’s trailer by clicking here.)
 |
| Wearing Boston Proper |
 |
| Tony Bill femulating in the 1963 film Soldier in the Rain. |
Just to fill in a missing spot here and there.....
ReplyDeleteI saw this film with a group called "Cinema Sunday at The Charles" here in Baltimore. We screen indie films throughout the year with a guest speaker and a post-film discussion. Some of the people thought the film, too slow,, but I disagreed. Monica has no idea how she's going to deal with telling her mother, and decides to play it by ear, putting it basically in her mother's hands. Mom, by the way, has some dementia due to the brain tumor and has some trouble understanding who is around her. I think we're rewarded by having patience and letting the process "take as long as it takes".