The body of Madalena, a trans woman, is found in a soybean field. Three characters are affected by the event: for Luziane and Cristiano, a bar hostess and a farm scion, it occasions somehow a rupture; for Bianca, an old friend, it is a matter-of-fact instance of growing violence on their community.

Brazilian director Madiano Marcheti’s haunting debut is an oblique look at the aftermath of a murder. Focusing on the ones left behind instead of solving the mystery, Madalena subtly reveals the nuances of societal intolerance and explores the political dimensions of personal grief.