A Fantastic Woman (Una Mujer Fantástica)

Marina, the young transgender woman at the center of A Fantastic Woman, lives up the title in more ways than one. When her older lover, Orlando, dies after suffering an aneurysm, Marina must work with his family to settle his affairs. But because of Marina’s age difference and gender identity, Orlando’s family suspects foul play, cruelly exiling her from any remembrance of her lover and even getting the police involved. A Fantastic Woman both grounds us in a beautifully detailed character portrait while also dazzling us with occasional forays into magical realism that lovingly evoke its Latin American setting and tradition. Chilean actress Daniela Vega went from total obscurity to presenting at the Academy Awards for her powerful and sympathetic performance in this newly crowned Oscar winner for Best Foreign Language Film.