Monica main backdrop
Monica main poster

6.0/10 • 28

2023-05-121h 53m

Drama

After years of estrangement, a trans woman returns home to help care for her dying mother.

Directors
Andrea Pallaoro
Writters
Andrea Pallaoro, Orlando Tirado
Editors
Paola Freddi

Top Billed Cast

View Credits
  1. Trace Lysette

    Trace Lysette

    Monica

  2. Patricia Clarkson

    Patricia Clarkson

    Eugenia

  3. Emily Browning

    Emily Browning

    Laura

  4. Joshua Close

    Joshua Close

    Paul

  5. Adriana Barraza

    Adriana Barraza

    Leticia

  6. Vladimir Perez

    Vladimir Perez

    Car Repairman

  7. Ali Amine

    Ali Amine

    Man Getting Massage

  8. Lucia Ramos

    Lucia Ramos

    Woman at Gas Station

  9. Leland Pittman

    Leland Pittman

    Benny

Reviews2

View Reviews
Brent Marchant Avatar

Brent Marchant

Jun 26, 2023

8/10

Acceptance, reconciliation and forgiveness are arguably among the hardest feelings for many of us to deal with, but coming to terms with them is by no means impossible. When Monica (Trace Lysette), a transgender woman kicked out by her family as an adolescent, leaves her Midwestern home and heads to California to start a new life, she struggles to get by. And, after years of effort, she indeed manages to work it out for the most part. But, years later, when Monica’s sister-in-law (Emily Browning) informs her that her long-estranged mother (Patricia Clarkson) is terminally ill, she’s torn about what to do. Should she ignore the news or step up as a dutiful child? She reluctantly relents and heads back to Ohio to help care for the woman who threw her out of the house, a situation made more complex by the fact that her mother’s malignant brain tumor has seriously affected her memory, leaving her unaware of the identity of the new caregiver who has suddenly appeared in her life. Writer-director Andrea Pallaoro’s third feature outing presents a deftly nuanced, sensitively handled story of a family painfully torn apart trying to put itself back together again under trying circumstances and while there’s still time. The pacing comes across as somewhat slow (undoubtedly by design), so those expecting material that moves along at a brisk, breezy may not find it to their liking, but, given the profound nature of the subject matter, it suits the narrative perfectly. There are admittedly a few plotline gaps here and there, but they’re more than adequately compensated for by the film’s superb ensemble cast, razor-sharp writing and gorgeous, atmospheric cinematography. “Monica” may not have received much fanfare upon its theatrical release earlier this year, but this fine streaming offering is well worth the time, providing viewers with a moving cinematic experience that many of us can probably relate to – and whose wisdom should be thoughtfully considered should the need arise in one’s life.

Media

  • Monica poster
  • Monica poster
  • Monica poster
  • Monica poster
  • Monica poster

Recommendations

  • Handling the Undead main backdrop

    Handling the Undead

    6.0

  • You Hurt My Feelings main backdrop

    You Hurt My Feelings

    6.4

  • Cry Uncle! main backdrop

    Cry Uncle!

    4.5

  • One Life main backdrop

    One Life

    7.8

  • Tetris main backdrop

    Tetris

    7.7

  • The Talented Mr. Ripley main backdrop

    The Talented Mr. Ripley

    7.2

  • Avatar: The Way of Water main backdrop

    Avatar: The Way of Water

    7.6

  • Dune: Part Two main backdrop

    Dune: Part Two

    8.1

  • Sing Sing main backdrop

    Sing Sing

    7.5

  • House of Ga'a main backdrop

    House of Ga'a

    5.5

  • The Silent Hour main backdrop

    The Silent Hour

    6.6

  • The First Omen main backdrop

    The First Omen

    6.9

  • Licorice Pizza main backdrop

    Licorice Pizza

    7.0

  • Afire main backdrop

    Afire

    6.8

  • Arcadian main backdrop

    Arcadian

    6.2

  • Heretic main backdrop

    Heretic

    7.1

  • Barbie main backdrop

    Barbie

    7.0

  • Wicked main backdrop

    Wicked

    6.9

  • Black Bag main backdrop

    Black Bag

    6.3

Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
$1,700,000.00
Revenue
$182,000.00
Keywords
forgivenessdying motherlgbtacceptancemother daughter relationshiptransgender