Monica (2022 film)

Monica is a 2022 drama film directed by Andrea Pallaoro from a screenplay by Pallaoro and Orlando Tirado. It stars Trace Lysette, Patricia Clarkson, Emily Browning, and Adriana Barraza.

The film had its world premiere at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on September 3, 2022, and it was released by IFC Films in the United States on May 12, 2023.

Monica, a trans woman, receives a call from her sister-in-law informing her that her mother, Eugenia, is seriously ill. Monica is estranged from her mother, who had disowned Monica because of her sexuality. However, Monica decides to return home to help care for her mother. When Monica arrives, she discovers that Eugenia does not recognize her, due to the fact that she hasn't seen Monica since her transition and a brain tumor is affecting her cognitive functions. Instead of revealing who she is, Monica decides to keep her identity a secret.

• Trace Lysette as Monica
• Patricia Clarkson as Eugenia
• Emily Browning as Laura
• Adriana Barraza as Leticia
• Joshua Close as Paul
• Leland and Brennan Pittman as Benny

In 2016, Trace Lysette auditioned for the titular role, winning the role, and then became an executive producer.

In September 2020, Patricia Clarkson, Trace Lysette, Anna Paquin and Adriana Barraza joined the cast of the film, with Andrea Pallaoro directing from a screenplay he wrote alongside Orlando Tirado. In June 2021, Emily Browning joined the cast of the film, replacing Paquin who exited the project due to scheduling conflicts.

Principal photography began in June 2021.

The film had its world premiere at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on September 3, 2022, where Lysette received an 11-minute standing ovation for her performance. Italian distributor Arthouse (a label of I Wonder Pictures) scheduled a December 1, 2022, Italian theatrical release date. In December 2022, IFC Films acquired distribution rights to the film. It was released in the United States on May 12, 2023.

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 84% of 62 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.7/10. The website's consensus reads: "Bolstered by a powerful lead performance from Trace Lysette, Monica follows a personal quest that's as beautifully filmed as it is emotionally resonant." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 75 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.

Peter Sobczynski of RogerEbert.com gave the film 4 stars out of 4, praising Lysette's performance and calling the film "a quiet, heartfelt, and beautifully nuanced drama that feels unique and universal."

• List of Italian films of 2022

• Monica at IMDb