Carlotta

Stories about the lives of transgender people - both real and fictional - are more and more popular as the LGBT movement becomes more and more prominent. What once was a curiosity now takes its rightful place in the world as trans people refuse to be marginalized any longer. Carlotta fits this trend, telling the real story of an Australian transsexual performer Carol Spencer, also known under the stage name Carlotta.

The story itself may be called a "typical" trans story: from denial, through inner struggle, to becoming true to oneself. This quality is by no means a fault, on the contrary, it shows something that is pretty universal not only for transgender individuals, but for many people not fitting "the norm" for one reason or another. Jessica Marais is really good as Carol/Carlotta, showing both vulnerability and inner strength of this incredible woman. It's a shame that such complexities of Carol's character aren't fully explored and her story is presented more as a series of events and less as an emotional journey of a person evolving and becoming true to herself.

Sadly, no matter how inspiring and fascinating Carlotta's life was, the movie does not capture that. The narration is mediocre at best, often taking big leaps and treating most of the supporting characters as one-dimensional additions to Carlotta's story. The cinematography is typical for a television movie and at times I found it annoyingly similar to the mass-produced Hallmark movies. I was left with the feeling of disappointment at the production value of the movie, as Carlotta's story could have been a really good piece of cinema instead of a pretty mediocre tv production.

Truly inspiring film great courage and I truly admire her!k

As good as Jessica Marais is as an actress, it is an obvious case of miscasting for her to have been chosen to play a role which is so much calling-out to be portrayed by an actor and not an actress. Did Carlotta select Ms Marais simply to be recognised as a very beautiful and svelte woman of incredible feminine appeal? Realistically, Carlotta should have been assigned to the talents of a professional drag-queen such as Courtney Act. The whole movie collapses simply because we can not visualise the stunning Jessica Marais as having ever been a boy! After all, it would have suited the purposes of the plot for viewers to actually witness a man delivering the attributes required for a transgender to make the grade as a successful showgirl.

Carlotta is the story of Richard Byron a young boy first played by Kai Lewins (definitely one to look out for) who was never like the other boys who he preferred dressing up in his mother's clothes, makeup and jewellery and had a unhappy childhood as he was psychically abused by his stepfather and so from the age of 16 now the role taken over by Jessica Marais moves to Kings Cross to work in a department store where meets Ava/Danny (Eamon Farren) and Christopher (Socratis Otto) who take Richard under their wing and introduce him to the world of drag and cabaret shows. Alex Dimitriades is brilliant as ever as Ava's abusive boyfriend Angelo, Anita Heigh is exceptional as Richard/Carol's mother who is a victim in a loveless marriage and Ryan Johnson is amazing the love of Carol's life Peter who loves her for she is a person. Overall the movie is an A grade production with the whole cast, amazing costumes and thank you director Samantha Lang and writer David Hanam and Carlotta for bringing this to the screen.

This movie Brought back so many memories of friends, a nd acquaintances from my early 20's when i was living in Sydney in the early 1980's. Rite up till 2007 I've personally met Carlotta on a number of occasions socially and professionally.I'm so lucky to have had the privilege of even working with many of Sydney's show girls making long life friends This film is really moving. actually a real tear jerker for me. Great real life story of what really went on in those days . I know cos I was there amongst it all living locally in Kings Cross and Darlinghurst and without a doubt "Quite frankly darlings" if you haven't seen it, its an absolute must watch. Love it, love it, love it. "Congratulations Carol " love from Adrian , in my heart forever! ...mean it x x x