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Review

In this tremendously poignant film, a hit at Sundance, newcomer Harmony Santana stars as a teenage boy transitioning to a woman at a time when her father returns home from prison.

Imbued with the authenticity and grit of its Bronx location shoot, filmmaker Rashaad Ernesto Green’s audacious debut is the story of a father just released from prison, his wife, and their teenage son Michael (Harmony Santana), who is in the process of coming out as Vanessa, a transwoman.

Enrique (Esai Morales) and Angela (Judy Reyes) have a lot of issues to deal with as Enrique tries to stay clean and out of jail. Angela struggles to keep her home and family together; protecting her child from her husband, who is unable to deal with Vanessa’s transition without anger. But the macho Enrique’s troubles don’t end with Vanessa, he’s struggling with his criminal instincts and his relationship with his wife.

The whole cast and crew deserve kudos for their roles in this stunningly transcendent film, but Santana earns a call-out for her bravura performance as Michael/Vanessa in this must-see dramatic highlight of the indie film season.

 -- Scott Cranin