A Fantastic Woman
The film opens with a shot of Iguazu Falls: a trip together to this miracle of nature is Orlando's (Francisco Reyes) gift to his much younger partner, Marina (Daniela Vega). The pretext is her birthday, which they spend together in Santiago, first at a romantic dinner followed by dancing. After returning home and enjoying some evening pleasures, Orlando suddenly faints. Marina takes him to the hospital, where she is forced to confront the family that Orlando left for her, as well as hostile healthcare workers and the police. Reduced to "caprice," "perversion," and a "chimera," this fantastic woman has to fight for the right to her feelings, her dignity, and even to mourn. Following Gloria, A Fantastic Woman is yet another sensitive portrayal of a woman by SebastiánLelio, which owes a lot to Daniela Vega's debut performance in the title role. The film was a hit at this year's Berlinale, where it won the award for best screenplay and a Teddy Award for LGBTQ films.
Sebastián Lelio
Sebastián Lelio is a director, screenwriter, and film producer, who is considered one of the most important figures in modern Chilean cinema. He was born in Argentina and spent his youth in the United States and Chile, where he graduated from film school. He made his full-length debut with The Sacred Family (Audience Award, sixth New Horizons International Film Festival). His last two films triumphed at the Berlin International Film Festival: Pauline García won an acting award for her role in Gloria, while A Fantastic Woman took home the award for best screenplay. Disobedience is his first English-language film.
Filmography
2005 Święta rodzina / La sagrada familia / The Sacred Family
2009 Narodzenie / Navidad / Christmas
2011 Rok tygrysa / El año del tigre / The Year of the Tiger
2013 Gloria
2017 Fantastyczna kobieta / Una mujer fantástica / A Fantastic Woman