For Nonna Anna

The story of a transgender woman who is caring for her sick grandmother, recalling their past and finding a bond in the future. If that one line description puts you off then probably it is worth skipping this one, because the film doesn't need you to have any barriers between you and the characters, because even without any politics getting in the way, it is not an easy film to connect with emotionally. Playing out mostly in silence, we see old footage of the character as a boy, and some potentially pivotal moments with their grandmother. The film progresses to the conclusion, where the two main characters find a connection - essentially through both being honest about the challenge of accepting their own changes with time.

Because I saw the film be attacked by those whose politics got in the way, I wanted to like it simply because politically I am on the other side from them. However, the film didn't give me many ways in. I appreciated the performance of the lead in some ways, as she was working with small expressions etc to convey her character, but I didn't connect along the way. This meant that the 'reveal' of the ending didn't carry weight for me, and it didn't connect with a deeper thread that I had been following. Perhaps it was me not getting it, but mostly I felt the film was almost deliberately being silent - like it was fine only playing to those who brought something to the film.

Technically it looks great, and in terms of subject matter I felt it was "worthy" while also making almost no emotionally impact on me at all; by the time the very personal and intimate material comes at the end, I was very much on the outside looking in.