FRRL FILM CLUB Wed 23 January 2019

Oscar Winner Best Foreign Language Film 2018

A FANTASTIC WOMAN (UNA MUJER FANTÁSTICA) (Dir.Sebastián Lelio, Chile/Germany/Spain/USA 2017, Cert 15, 1h40m)

About Una mujer fantástica

Marina Vidal’s life is thrown into turmoil following the sudden death of her partner, Oralndo. Met with suspicion from the police and contempt from her lover’s relatives. As tensions rise between her and Orlando’s family, she is evicted from their shared home and banned from attending his funeral. But faced with the threat of losing everything, Marina finds the strength to fight back.

“A captivating and raw performance” ‘Exquisitely compassionate’ “Infused with mystery and melodrama” “Shocking and enraging, rapturous,

restorative” “Audacious filmmaking” Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgDhpy9Z -NM

Cast and Crew

Director: Sebastián Lelio Marina: Daniela Vega

Screenplay: Sebastián Lelio & Gonzalo Mora Orlando: Francisco Reyes Cinematography: Benjamín Echazarreta Gabo: Luis Gnecco Sonia: Aline Küppenheim Adriana: Amparo Noguera

Gastón: Néstor Cantillana

Discussion prompts

1. How effective is the film as a call for understanding and acceptance of diversity?

2. How do we respond to the main characters? What shapes our reaction to them?

3. The style of the film has been described as ‘magic realism’ and moving through ‘modern romance via social-realist drama to quasi-Lynchian detective thriller’ (Mark Kermode). Do you agree? How does the film’s generic mix impact on you?

4. Consider the opening and closing sequences of the film – what expectations/closure do they establish? How?