A Fantastic Woman (Una mujer fantástica) (2018)
87%RT Audience Score: 77%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
31 wins & 42 nominations total
Subtle and tender, A Fantastic Woman handles its timely, sensitive subject matter with care
A Fantastic Woman is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and feel all the emotions in between. Daniela Vega’s performance is nothing short of mesmerizing, and the film’s portrayal of the trans community is both powerful and poignant. Sure, some critics might say that the use of sex and gender in the narrative is straight out of a ’50s melodrama, but who cares when you’re too busy being captivated by Marina Vidal’s inner strength and self-love? This movie is a must-see for anyone who wants to embrace all things fluid and be moved by a truly fantastic woman.
Production Company(ies)
Maïa Films, Arte France Cinéma Les Films, d’ Ici
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited), Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Santiago, Chile
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language, sexual content, nudity and a disturbing assault
Year of Release
2018
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 43m
-
Language(s):Spanish, Chinese
-
Country of origin:United States, Chile, Germany, Spain
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 2, 2018 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 22, 2018
Genre(s)
Drama/LGBTQ+
Keyword(s)
starring Daniela Vega, Francisco Reyes, Luis Gnecco, Aline Küppenheim, Nicolás Saavedra, Amparo Noguera, directed by Sebastián Lelio, written by Sebastián Lelio, Gonzalo Maza, drama, LGBTQ+, R rating, box office gross $2.0M, Sony Pictures Classics, reviewed by J.R Jones, Scott Marks, Donald Clarke, Ryan Gilbey, Maria M Delgado, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Rosa Parra, Jason Adams, Nikki Baughan, Betsy Bozdech, Anne Brodie, transgender, singer, discrimination, older boyfriend, grief, loss, societal alienation, bravery, resilience, bigotry, Chilean, actress, Daniela Vega
Worldwide gross: $3,839,364
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,518,063
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,209
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 492,700
US/Canada gross: $2,020,988
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,378,246
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,992
US/Canada opening weekend: $64,241
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $75,597
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,050
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Francisco Reyes – Orlando
Luis Gnecco – Gabo
Aline Küppenheim – Sonia
Nicolás Saavedra – Bruno
Amparo Noguera – Adriana
Director(s)
Sebastián Lelio
Writer(s)
Sebastián Lelio, Gonzalo Maza
Producer(s)
Juan de Dios Larraín, Pablo Larraín, Sebastián Lelio, Gonzalo Maza
Film Festivals
Berlin, Telluride, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
31 wins & 42 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Foreign Language Film of the Year Winners, Oscar Best International Feature Film Of The Year Winners, Oscar Winners
All Critics (229) | Top Critics (63) | Fresh (215) | Rotten (14)
[Daniela] Vega is mesmerizing as the protagonist.
March 26, 2020
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Vega’s performance is riveting, but writer and co-director Sebastián Leilo’s use of sex and gender to shape his narrative is straight out of a ’50s melodrama.
February 21, 2019
Scott Marks
San Diego Reader
TOP CRITIC
The picture works as an extended scream against lazy assumptions and blinkered bigotry. But it is also light, funny, wry and inspiring.
March 13, 2018 | Rating: 5/5
Donald Clarke
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
From the moment the camera catches sight of the singer Marina Vidal in a Santiago hotspot, where she brings panache to a salsa-infused torch song, it is fully captivated and so are we.
March 8, 2018
Ryan Gilbey
New Statesman
TOP CRITIC
An accomplished and deeply moving film, gloriously rendered with shifting harmonies, gusto, poise and heartfelt emotion.
March 6, 2018
Maria M. Delgado
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
A Fantastic Woman asks us to embrace all things fluid and, thanks to the superstar at its centre, it’s a pleasure to go with the flow.
March 4, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Charlotte O’Sullivan
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
A tough look at what the trans community experience on a daily basis. Marina’s inner strength, self-love, and maturity are admirable and empowering.
April 3, 2022 | Rating: 4.5/5
Rosa Parra
Latinx Lens
a delicate strain of surrealism worked through the film that graces us with some of the most transfixing moments
January 14, 2022
Jason Adams
My New Plaid Pants
This poignant tale of grief, loss and societal alienation is directed with warmth and sensitivity by Sebastian Lelio, and is both powerful cultural statement and emotionally involving human drama.
November 4, 2021
Nikki Baughan
AWFJ Women on Film
An outstanding portrait of bravery and resilience in the face of unconscionable bigotry.
November 4, 2021
Betsy Bozdech
AWFJ Women on Film
Chilean transgender actress Daniela Vega grabs us by the heart and doesn’t let go.
November 4, 2021
Anne Brodie
AWFJ Women on Film
A Fantastic Woman delivers insight and elicits compassion from audiences of all genders.
November 4, 2021
Jennifer Merin
AWFJ Women on Film…
Plot
Somewhere in Santiago at a dimly-lit nightclub, Orlando, the kindly and well-off owner of a textile company, locks eyes with Marina, a hopeful singer and the roughly half-his-age love of his life. But, unfortunately, after Marina’s birthday celebration and a night of passion, Orlando falls gravely ill
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Chilean transgender actress Daniela Vega delivers a magnificent performance in this complex and enraging drama.
Sebastián-Lelio.jpg
