Mala Mala

Comparing Mala Mala to Paris is Burning does a disservice to Mala Mala. This film presents an exploration of the many forms of gender expression: from those who wear it only on the surface to those who truly believe that they were assigned a different gender at birth. One of the subjects says it best when she says that some of the "trans-gender" girls actually want to be "beauty queens" and not real women because once youth fades and they can no longer be beauty queens, they are no longer interested in being women.

Mala Mala presents a complete gradient of the understanding of gender expression with subjects from different backgrounds, social classes, and different ways of verbalizing just what it means to be trans-gender in Puerto Rico in the 2010s. The film conflates drag and trans-gender cultures because in Puerto Rico they are not separate in the same way the are in the United States and other western countries. The filmmakers are very much aware that some subjects are only playing women whereas others are being women.

Ultimately the true heart of Mala Mala lies in the back-stories of the women in the film. At the end of the film, Ivana says that the way they can effect real change in society by pushing for a non-discrimination law in PR is not through legalese and statistics but through their own stories and their own struggles. This film delves into those stories precisely. This isn't a social philosophy think-piece that was concocted by people who've taken many critical gender studies classes at a university. Rather, it looks at subjects whose lives and backgrounds more than compensate for the limited vocabulary they have to make sense of who they are and what they do. This is a compelling film more interested in the "how" than in the "what".

This Puerto Rican vanity production only seemed to be concerned about highlighting the glamorous superficiality of being a transgender/transvestite male where vamping-it-up, putting on pretty dresses, and applying one's mascara (thick & heavy) was life's ultimate delight.

As expected - "Mala Mala" didn't go anywhere near the cold, hard truth of reality regarding suicide where (when it comes to the trans-community) self-destruction rates are (percentage-wise) one of the highest in the adult world.

This examination of the Puerto Rican trans community is beautifully shot, has gorgeous music, and the director is a star of the indy film world. But ultimately it fails because it's nothing but glitter and pearls. No real HEART to the film.

The loose structure follows several divas as they make their way, often from tortured backgrounds, struggling for love, but still respondent in their gowns. The trouble is that the analysis never goes any deeper than what one would expect from a USA Today article of a Hallmark TV show.

It is quite bizarre when a film by such a famous director premieres at Tribeca, but then doesn't even get invited to Frameline. Perhaps the San Fran gender folks realized that trans is more than drag... it's about life...an aspect sorely missing here.

What an incredible and important film. Especially in the wake of gay marriage legislation and the imminent need for the United States and the rest of the world to recognize and accept the LBGT community. The women and men in this film open up so beautifully to reveal their daily lives and the struggle associated with being different in the eyes of standard society. Their resilience and passion is electric.

The film is beautifully shot. It's easy to forget you're watching a documentary when the characters are so honest and engaging and the cinematography is exceptional.

This film is a must see, highly recommend.

"Mala Mala" is not the sort of film I usually watch due to the subject matter, though I am a huge fan of documentaries. This isn't a complaint...and I did enjoy the film. But I mention this because the target audience for the film is probably the LGBT community and because of that, it probably will have a more limited audience than a typical documentary.

Filmmakers Antonio Santini and Dan Sickles interviewed a variety of folks who represent a wide spectrum within the trans-gender spectrum in Puerto Rico. The theme of the film seems to be the great variety within this group--different motivations, different lifestyles and different ways they see themselves. They are NOT a monolithic group with one goal and one lifestyle. A few are very flamboyant while others do their best to blend in with society and lead ordinary lives. But the one thing they all have in common is that they want their rights--the right to hold down jobs and to have the same rights before the law as anyone else. Much of the latter portion of the movie is about an effort by a grassroots group to gain these legal rights--and to make Puerto Rico the most liberal and accepting place in the United States for the trans-gender community.

The film has a lot going for it. It does a good job humanizing the interviewees without whitewashing them or making them appear noble-- and I credit Santini and Sickles for this. They also have created a very professional film that makes quite the emotional impact on the viewers and it has some excellent points to make. However, it isn't at all surprising that portions of the film are very adult and explicit. This is not a film you'd show your kids and I am sure some of it is bound to offend some viewers' sensibilities. Many might be very accepting of the LGBT community while still not wanting to see some of the more graphic scenes in the documentary. None of this is meant as a critique--it's more to let the viewer know so they can make an informed decision as to whether or not to watch the film.