My second day at TIFF consisted of my favorite and least favorite films of the festival!
I AM MARIO
“Trans man becomes pregnant” sounds like a tabloid headline on the page but for a film high-concept enough for this corker of a one-line premise, the potentially risky I Am Mario turns out to be an unexpectedly tender and nuanced character study. It was easily my biggest surprise at this year’s TIFF.
To understand such a premise, one has to establish that Mario (Oustin León) is in the middle of his transition when this occurs. A Mexico City cabdriver already masculine enough to pass, he’s been going through hormonal treatments but had to temporarily pause them (and put off gender-reassignment surgery) due to medical complications. Following a tryst with a male co-worker shot ambiguously enough to question whether the act was entirely consensual, Mario discovers he’s pregnant; his reaction is suitably conflicted as he does want to have children, just not in this way. Further complicating matters is Jessica (Ruth Ramos), a spirited taxi customer-turned-lover who accepts him being trans but has no interest in becoming a mother (this early in his pregnancy, she has no idea.)
Director/writer Sharon Kleinberg isn’t trans but her sensitive, non-sensationalist approach to the material is partially what makes the film work. Much time is spent exploring the complex dynamic between Mario and his family (whom he’s out to) and his coworkers (whom he’s not.) Still, for a premise like this to excel, one needs a strong lead performance. Leon, who appears in nearly every frame delivers just that; astonishingly, this is his first professional acting role. His contributed input to the screenplay based on his own experiences is also deeply felt.
Just a decade or two ago, someone might have misguidedly attempted to make a wacky comedy out of such a premise. I Am Mario meets the current moment beautifully. One hopes enough people will see it so that it becomes a talisman for future generations of trans stories yet to be told.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO F*CK ME
It’s the sort of title that makes one want to reply, “Cool story, bro.” Admittedly, I had some expectations for this to be good since it stars the normally likable Taron Egerton (who was sublime as Elton John in Rocketman) and it has a potentially amusing premise (soft and sensitive but secretly persistent lothario wakes up one day to find himself irresistible to all women.) The first fifteen minutes suggest the type of witty, battle-of-the-sexes rom-com/satire that’s been in short supply lately. Then, it gradually goes off the rails and not even in an entertaining way. As it veers towards (and then completely into) horror, whatever goodwill has been established quickly sours, leaving one wondering whether writer/director Jonathan Schey has ever had anything resembling a functional relationship. Along with fellow cast members Jessica Henwick (Glass Onion) and Charley Clive (TV’s Rooster), Egerton is completely wasted here; all three of them are far deserving of a better vehicle. I suppose I should’ve known better after seeing that lame asterisk in the title.
