Critics reviews

Director Andrea Pallaoro, whose previous work includes Hannah, starring Charlotte Rampling, contains the family in uneasy proximity in a tight, square aspect ratio that emphasises the tactile quality of the interactions between the characters and the camerawork. The result is a film of quiet but considerable power.

This is a tremendously crafted, impeccably intelligent film.

The result is a quiet, heartfelt, and beautifully nuanced drama that feels unique and universal, featuring what will surely go down as one of the best performances of 2023.

With assured performances and an equally assured camera, no one needs to speak to understand when the aches are soothed.

The pace is slow, creating a sense of timelessness... The highly capable cast have lots of room to explore and express their characters. Once you have settled into their rhythm, you won’t want to leave.

At its best, “Monica” shows that the most important moments in life, and particularly in family life, don’t need words.

“Monica” achieves a delicate balance that’s wholly unlike other trans films, delivering a universal human story that neither ignores nor obsesses over the character’s trans-ness. “Monica” raises the bar for trans stories onscreen, and Lysette takes her rightful place as its muse.

Director and co-writer Andrea Pallaoro banishes easy sentiment and proselytising in this touching film, allowing the audience to take a journey with the titular Monica and discover her story on the way. Lysette’s lived experience as a trans woman, which mirrors that of her character, helps the actor deliver a powerful, internalised performance, flashing slivers of spirit amid the hurt and reticence and endless resilience.

Monica... feels like a movie perpetually struggling to connect. Lysette has real presence, her regal beauty softened by an affecting sadness and stillness. But the film doesn’t dig deep enough beneath that surface of sultry melancholy, and Pallaoro’s handling of the character, particularly when it comes to her gender identity, is oddly gimmicky.