A Fantastic Woman

Marina is a young transgender woman living in Santiago, Chile, where she juggles her life as a singer and waitress. Recently, she has been in a romantic relationship with Orlando, an older man, and they have moved in together. On the night of her birthday, Orlando surprises Marina with a heartfelt gift: a note promising tickets to a renowned resort. However, tragedy strikes when Orlando suddenly falls ill in the middle of the night and suffers a fatal brain aneurysm after tumbling down the stairs.

In the wake of this loss, Marina reaches out to Orlando’s brother, Gabo, only to find herself embroiled in suspicion when the police, upon discovering her old ID, refer to her as ‘sir.’ Fortunately, Gabo arrives just in time to defuse the situation, assuring the officers of Marina’s innocence and allowing her to drive home in Orlando’s car.

As she navigates her grief, Marina receives a call from Orlando’s ex-wife, Sonia, who arranges to pick up Orlando’s car. During a routine shift, Marina is visited by detective Adriana, who investigates sexual assault cases. Adriana raises doubts about the nature of Marina and Orlando’s relationship, suggesting that Marina may have been paid for companionship rather than being genuinely involved, and leads her to believe she might have caused Orlando’s bruises. After refusing to meet Adriana after work, she feels pressured when the detective insists on a mandatory physical examination to probe for any signs of abuse.

Returning to her apartment, Marina finds solace in the company of Orlando’s dog, Diabla. The next morning, Orlando’s son, Bruno, arrives and begins to interrogate her. After washing the car, Marina experiences a haunting moment where she envisions Orlando, deepening her emotional turmoil. The tension escalates when Marina meets Sonia again in a parking lot, resulting in an unpleasant exchange where Sonia demands Marina vacate the flat immediately and not attend the funeral.

Later, Marina is forced to comply with detective Adriana’s demands for a physical examination, or risk having an investigation opened against her. This harrowing experience leaves her vulnerable. Following a call from Gabo about Orlando’s cremation, Marina starts preparing to leave the apartment, only to discover that Bruno has taken Diabla.

Although warned by Wanda and Gastón to stay away from trouble, she feels compelled to attend the wake. Upon her arrival, Sonia confronts and expels her, with Gabo offering a brief apology before she is forced to leave. Later, Bruno and his friends kidnap Marina, subjecting her to harassment and confinement in an alleyway. Struggling to cope, she finds refuge at a gay club where she encounters a man, later experiencing hallucinations of Orlando’s presence.

Determined to find closure, Marina visits a sauna where Orlando had left a key, but her hopes are dashed when she finds the locker empty. The next day, she learns of the details for Orlando’s funeral through a newspaper. At the ceremony, tension flares as members of Orlando’s family confront and insult her, prompting an emotionally charged reaction where she demands the return of her dog by climbing on their car.

In a moment of painful clarity, she bravely enters the morgue to see Orlando’s body before he is cremated. The film culminates with a poignant scene where Marina, now embracing her independence and identity, is seen running joyfully with Diabla and later captivating an audience with her opera performance, signifying a powerful rebirth amidst the tragedy.

Last Updated: November 16, 2024 at 17:16