Monica (2022 film)

Last updated

Monica
Monica (2022 film).jpg
Poster
Directed by Andrea Pallaoro
Written by
  • Andrea Pallaoro
  • Orlando Tirado
Produced by
  • Andrea Pallaoro
  • Christina Dow
  • Elenora Granata-Jenkinson
  • Gina Resnick
  • Joana Henning
Starring
Cinematography Katelin Arizmendi
Edited byPaola Freddi
Production
companies
  • Rai Cinema
  • Propaganda Italia
  • Fenix Entertainment
  • Alacran Pictures
  • The Exchange
Distributed by
Release dates
  • September 3, 2022 (2022-09-03)(Venice)
  • December 1, 2022 (2022-12-01)(Italy)
  • May 12, 2023 (2023-05-12)(United States)
Running time
106 minutes
Countries
  • United States
  • Italy
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1.7 million [1]
Box office$182,156 [2] [3]

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.

Contents

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.

Plot

A trans woman estranged from her family returns home to care for her dying mother.

Cast

Production

In 2016, Trace Lysette auditioned for the titular role, winning the role, and then became an executive producer. [4]

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. [5] In June 2021, Emily Browning joined the cast of the film, replacing Paquin who exited the project due to scheduling conflicts. [6]

Principal photography began in June 2021. [7]

Release

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. [8] [9] Italian distributor Arthouse (a label of I Wonder Pictures) scheduled a December 1, 2022, Italian theatrical release date. [10] In December 2022, IFC Films acquired distribution rights to the film. [11] It was released in the United States on May 12, 2023. [12]

Reception

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." [13] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 75 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. [14]

Awards and Nominations

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryNomineeResultRef.
Independent Spirit Awards February 25, 2024 Best Lead Performance Trace Lysette Nominated [15]
GLAAD Media Awards March 14, 2024 Outstanding Film – Limited Release MonicaWon [16]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karlovy Vary International Film Festival</span> Annual film festival in the Czech Republic

The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is a film festival held annually in July in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. The Karlovy Vary Festival is one of the oldest in the world and has become Central and Eastern Europe's leading film event.

The Young Cinema Award is a film award given at the Venice Film Festival. The motto of the award is "Spirit of time: a look to the present". The jury consists of one hundred 18- to 25-year-olds from different countries, such as France, Canada, Poland, Hungary, and Italy. The 2016 edition gathered French, Tunisian, and Italian young people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stage 6 Films</span> American film producer

Stage 6 Films, Inc. is an American film production label of Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions that acquires and produces feature films that are low budget and that are being released direct-to-disc, on demand, or through streaming services. Some of their films are also being released theatrically. Once a film is finished, Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions will decide if the film will be released theatrically or on a different platform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emily Browning</span> Australian actress

Emily Jane Browning is an Australian actress. She made her film debut in the television film The Echo of Thunder (1998), and subsequently appeared in television shows such as High Flyers (1999), Something in the Air (2000–2001), and Blue Heelers (2000–2002). Her breakthrough role was in the 2002 horror film Ghost Ship, which introduced her to a wider audience. In 2005, Browning won the Australian Film Institute International Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Violet Baudelaire in the film Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004).

Mubi is a global streaming platform, production company and film distributor. MUBI produces and theatrically distributes films by emerging and established filmmakers, which are exclusively available on its platform. The catalog consists of world cinema films, such as arthouse films, documentary films, independent films. Additionally, it publishes Notebook, a film criticism and news publication, and provides weekly cinema tickets to selected new-release films through MUBI GO.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanessa Kirby</span> British actress (born 1988)

Vanessa Nuala Kirby is an English actress. She made her professional acting debut on stage, with acclaimed performances in the plays All My Sons (2010), A Midsummer Night's Dream (2010), Women Beware Women (2011), Three Sisters (2012), and as Stella Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire (2014).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyrus Arnold</span> American actor (born 2003)

Cyrus Arnold is an American actor. He is known for his roles as BJ Malloy in the Nickelodeon sitcom Sam & Cat (2013–2014), Derek Zoolander Jr. in the comedy film Zoolander 2 (2016), and David "Truck" Johnson III in the second season of the Fox series The Exorcist (2017). Arnold also appeared in the films Runt (2020), 8-Bit Christmas, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Mr. Harrigan's Phone (2022), and Family Switch (2023), along with voicing Jawbreaker in the Nickelodeon seriesTransformers: EarthSpark (2022–present).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trace Lysette</span> American actress (born 1981)

Trace Lysette is an American actress whose most notable roles include Shea in the television series Transparent (2014–2019) and Tracey in the feature film Hustlers (2019). As a trans actress, she also featured in the Netflix documentary Disclosure as herself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patricia Clarkson on screen and stage</span>

Patricia Clarkson is an American actress who made her film debut in Brian De Palma's mob drama The Untouchables (1987), followed by a supporting role in Clint Eastwood's The Dead Pool (1988). After appearing in minor roles in the early and mid-1990s, she garnered critical attention for her portrayal of a drug-addicted actress in the independent drama High Art (1998). She appeared in numerous supporting roles in such films as The Green Mile (1999), The Pledge (2001), Far from Heaven (2002), and Dogville (2003).

<i>No Mans Land</i> (2021 American film) 2021 film

No Man's Land is a 2021 American Western film, directed by Conor Allyn from a screenplay by Jake Allyn and David Barraza. It stars Frank Grillo, Jake Allyn, George Lopez, Andie MacDowell, Alex MacNicoll, Jorge A. Jiménez, and Andres Delgado.

<i>New Order</i> (film) 2020 film

New Order is a 2020 Mexican-French thriller art film. It takes place in a dystopian near future Mexico. It was written, directed, produced and edited by Michel Franco and is a French-Mexican co-production.

<i>The Eternal Daughter</i> 2022 film by Joanna Hogg

The Eternal Daughter is a 2022 Gothic mystery drama film produced, written and directed by Joanna Hogg. It stars Tilda Swinton in a double role, as both a middle-aged filmmaker and her elderly mother who are guests at a mysterious hotel. Joseph Mydell and Carly-Sophia Davies are featured in supporting roles.

Dry is a 2022 Italian apocalyptic comedy film directed by Paolo Virzì, from a screenplay by Paolo Giordano. The film features an ensemble cast which includes Silvio Orlando, Valerio Mastandrea, Sara Serraiocco and Monica Bellucci.

<i>Across the River and into the Trees</i> (film) 2022 film by Peter Flannery

Across the River and into the Trees is a 2022 war drama film directed by Paula Ortiz and adapted by Peter Flannery from the 1950 novel by Ernest Hemingway. It stars Liev Schreiber, Matilda De Angelis, Josh Hutcherson, Laura Morante, Massimo Popolizio, and Danny Huston. The film premiered at the Sun Valley Film Festival on 30 March 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AGC Studios</span> American film and television production company

AGC Studios is an American film and television production studio. It was founded and launched by Chairman and CEO Stuart Ford in February 2018 as a platform to develop, produce, finance and globally license a diverse portfolio of feature films, scripted, unscripted and factual television, digital and musical content from its dual headquarters in Los Angeles and London. The new studio's Hollywood output has a wide-ranging multicultural focus, designed for exploitation across an array of global platforms including major studio partnerships, streaming platforms, traditional broadcast and cable television networks and independent distributors, both in the U.S. and internationally.

Becoming Led Zeppelin is a forthcoming documentary film directed by Bernard MacMahon which charts the formation and early years of Led Zeppelin. The film is an independent production made with the full co-operation of the band and represents the first time Led Zeppelin have agreed to participate in a biographical documentary. A work-in-progress was screened at the 78th Venice Film Festival in 2021 to a 10-minute standing ovation.

<i>Midas Man</i> 2024 British film dramatising the life of Brian Epstein

Midas Man is a 2024 British biographical film about the life of music entrepreneur Brian Epstein, who managed The Beatles. Based on a screenplay by Brigit Grant and Jonathan Wakeham, the film is directed by Joe Stephenson, after previous directors Sara Sugarman and Jonas Åkerlund moved on from the project. Jacob Fortune-Lloyd stars in the lead role, alongside Emily Watson, Eddie Marsan, Omari Douglas, Darci Shaw, Ed Speleers, Charley Palmer Rothwell, Bill Milner, Jay Leno, and Blake Richardson.

<i>The Palace</i> (2023 film) 2023 film by Roman Polanski

The Palace is a 2023 black comedy film directed by Roman Polanski, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jerzy Skolimowski and Ewa Piaskowska. The film stars Oliver Masucci, Fanny Ardant, John Cleese, Bronwyn James, Joaquim de Almeida, Luca Barbareschi, Milan Peschel, Fortunato Cerlino, and Mickey Rourke. It chronicles the mishaps of a 1999 New Year's Eve dinner party in the Gstaad Palace, from a penguin going loose in the hotel to the exploitation of the millennium bug for a guest's financial gain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">79th Venice International Film Festival</span> Film festival

The 79th annual Venice International Film Festival was held from 31 August to 10 September 2022. Noah Baumbach's White Noise was the festival's opening film, and Francesco Carrozzini's The Hanging Sun was the closing film.

References

  1. "Trace Lysette hopes her trans role in 'Monica' opens doors -- and eyes". January 4, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  2. "Monica (2022)". The Numbers. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  3. "Monica (2022)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  4. Malkin, Marc (May 12, 2023). "'Monica' Star Trace Lysette Says Screening at New York's LGBT Community Center Was 'Heavy': 'I Got My Gender Identity Therapy There 20 Years Ago'". Variety. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  5. Wiseman, Andreas (September 11, 2020). "Trace Lysette, Patricia Clarkson, Anna Paquin & Adriana Barraza To Star In Drama 'Monica'; The Exchange Launches Sales — Toronto". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  6. Wiseman, Andreas (June 29, 2021). "Emily Browning Replaces Anna Paquin In Drama 'Monica' With Trace Lysette, Patricia Clarkson & Adriana Barraza; Filming Underway in Ohio". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  7. Scarpa, Vittoria (July 2, 2021). "Filming begins in the USA on Monica by Andrea Pallaoro". Cineuropa . Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  8. "Biennale Cinema 2022 | Monica". Venice Biennale. June 30, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  9. Rude, Mey (September 6, 2022). "Trace Lysette Gets 11-Minute Standing Ovation at Venice Festival Film". Out. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  10. "'Monica', arriva in sala il film di Andrea Pallaoro". Cinecittà News. November 11, 2022.
  11. Dalton, Ben (December 6, 2022). "IFC Films buys Andrea Pallaoro's Venice Competition title Monica (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  12. Vivarelli, Nick (March 23, 2023). "'Transparent' Star Trace Lysette and Patricia Clarkson Play an Estranged Daughter and Mother Who Connect in 'Monica' – Watch U.S. Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  13. "Monica". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved August 24, 2023. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  14. "Monica". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  15. Brent Lang, Jordan Moreau=date=December 5, 2023 (December 5, 2023). "Spirit Awards 2024 Nominations List" . Retrieved December 5, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. "GLAAD ANNOUNCES NOMINEES FOR THE 35th ANNUAL GLAAD MEDIA AWARDS". GLAAD . January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.