A transgender woman, Monica, reluctantly returns to her estranged Midwestern hometown as her mother, Eugenia, battles dementia. Having left years ago, Monica feels like a stranger in her family, but now she must confront unresolved tensions and embark on a path of healing and acceptance.

Led by trans actress Trace Lysette in a tour-de-force performance, Andrea Pallaoro’s quiet marvel keenly conveys the unspoken heartache of familial estrangement. Opting for a narrower aspect ratio, in which every frame gains a portrait-like feel, Monica is a film of delicate gestures and emotions.