The first trailer for “A Fantastic Woman” sees Marina (Daniela Vega) living a nightmare. The waitress and singer has not only lost Orlando (Francisco Reyes), the love of her life, after he dies suddenly, she’s also being denied the right to mourn for him. “You won’t go to the funeral or the wake. Understood?” his ex-wife (Aline Kuppenheim) asks.
Marina is forbidden from attending her partner’s funeral and wake because his ex is “just looking out for [her] loved ones.” And she seemingly doesn’t want them to discover that Marina is a trans woman. “Orlando was a loved one to me,” Marina points out, though it doesn’t seem like his friends and family have given much thought into what she thinks or feels. She’s “forced to confront his family and society, and to fight again to show them who she is: complex, strong, forthright, fantastic,” the film’s official synopsis details.
“A Fantastic Woman” made its world premiere at the Berlinale in February and has been receiving raves ever since. The Sebastián Lelio-directed drama will screen later this month at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Many are predicting that newcomer Vega could be a contender come awards season — she would make herstory as the first trans actress to receive an Oscar nomination.
“A Fantastic Woman” hits select theaters November 17.
