What does it mean to become a complete person? It’s a question that makes for some wonderful, compelling cinema as it invites one to dive deep into the wordless mysticism that is the process of Becoming — with a capital B. Within queer cinema, this question has added relevance as one-dimensional portrayals of queer characters is simply an accepted fact.
As such, it’s always a brilliant experience when a film succeeds in portraying queer characters as complete humans with a deep-rooted authenticity. Lovin’ Her by filmmaker day is an exquisite example of the depths of feeling that can be plumbed when this difficult task is fulfilled in its entirety. The short film mostly takes place in the mind of an elderly trans woman, who is going through her life’s most significant memories through the haze of dementia. In a series of fleeting vignettes, the movie showcases the protagonist’s coming into being as a trans woman — a complete person.
The paradox of representation deserves a mention when parsing this uniquely evocative work. It can sometimes be the case that an angled portrayal of a character — even when that angle is activism — can distort the image on some level, preventing the work from connecting with its audience. At its worst, this can cause the work to lose much of its relatability, and its power to evoke emotion. Lovin’ You is the antithesis of this; it is a brilliant piece of cinema that breathes true life to its character through sublime processes.
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With each subsequent vignette, a sense of personality emerges that is truly intriguing — the tender resilience throughout, treading into the unknown with courage, and eventually coming into a quiet self-satisfaction. The casting is simply magnificent; each actor communicating much of this emotional meaning through the brimming depths of the eyes, and the subtlest poise.
These sentiments are communicated boldly, but the mastery of this film is that all of these meanings come to life through organic, life-like cues. There are more than a few moments that make a definite mark. The enigmatic shots of the protagonist looking into the camera stand out in particular, as if judging herself through the lenses of her past selves. The title finds their meaning through these shots: a trans woman who learns to love herself.
The 28th edition of the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival runs in-person and online November 13-24. For tickets, scheduling, and other details about this year’s programming, visit the festival’s website.
