Trans Love story ‘Lingua Franca’ Wins at a Russian Film Festival
Lingua Franca / IMDb
Transgender actress, director, filmmaker Isabel Sandoval was awarded best actress Friday at the 18th Pacific Meridian Int’l Film Festival for her break-out feature Lingua Franca.
The unlikely love story Lingua Franca mesmerizes with the juxtaposition of life as an undocumented indentured trans woman during the Trump administration, in an NYC Russian Orthodox community, a faith infamously known for its violent opposition to trans existence in the motherland.
Winning accolades by a Russian jury with her film titled lingua franca which by definition is an age-old bridge language, is a subliminal yet powerful stroke of pure genius.
The award was presented by jury member Anton Yarush, who said “I think this is an important award in the context of Russian festival history, considering that the jury was also Russian.”
”
Lingua Franca has already been awarded 4 wins and 13 nominations while on the circuit but none more poignant than the award for best actress by Russian judges.
Via IMDb Olivia (Isabel Sandoval), an undocumented Filipino transwoman, works as a caregiver to Olga (Lynn Cohen), an elderly Russian woman, in the Russian Orthodox section of Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. When Olivia runs out of options to attain legal status in the US, she becomes romantically involved with Alex (Eamon Farren), Olga’s adult grandson.
Lingua Franca/ Alex (Eamon Farren), Olga’s adult grandson/ IMDb
The award from a Russian jury is in stark contrast to the deteriorating conditions that trans people who endure in Russia.
Supernews from Vladivostok. The Pacific Meridian International Film Festival has just ended. The Best Actress Award went to transgender woman Isabelle Sandoval @isabelvsandoval for Lingua Franca (by the way, Sandoval is also a director, screenwriter and producer of the film). ⠀ The prize was presented by our friend and screenwriter @ anton.yarush (“Closeness”, “Unclenching his fists”) with the wording “For the accuracy of being on the screen.” “I think this is an important award in the context of Russian festival history. Considering that the jury was also Russian, ”Anton told us ❤️🌈 ⠀“ Lingua Franca ”talks about a trans woman who works as a nurse for a Russian grandmother in Brooklyn. The film can be watched on Netflix (but, unfortunately, not in Russia yet).
LINGUA FRANCA is an understated love story about an undocumented Filipina trans caretaker in Brooklyn.
With nods to Chantal Akerman and Wong Kar-wai, Isabel Sandoval’s latest gem — which she wrote, directed, produced, edited, and stars in — is now on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/uCaDtTyOEO
— NetflixFilm (@NetflixFilm) August 26, 2020
Kelli Busey an outspoken gonzo style journalist has been writing since 2007. In 2008, she brought the Dallas Advocate on-line and has articles published by the Reconciling Ministries Network, The Transsexual Menace, The Daily Kos, Frock Magazine the TransAdvocate, the Dallas Voice and The Advocate. Kelli, an avid runner is editor in chief at Planet Transgender which she founded in 2007.
