Trace Lysette

Led by trans actress Trace Lysette in a tour-de-force performance, Andrea Pallaoro’s quiet marvel keenly conveys the unspoken heartache of familial estrangement. Opting for a narrower aspect ratio, in which every frame gains a portrait-like feel, Monica is a film of delicate gestures and emotions.

A struggling artist, living a life in limbo between who he is and who he wants to be, is interrupted by a beautiful woman who forces him to choose.