Brazilian filmmaker, Flavio Alves enlisted an ensemble from emerging Latinx actor, Carlie Guevara to Veteran Latina actor, Miriam Cruz portraying Mexican immigrants in the independent film, "The Garden Left Behind" (2019).
This film had a grounded agenda to showcase a humane telling of a Gen Zer seeking their independence. The main character, "Tina" (born "Antonio") helmed by Guevara seeks transition (male to female) but also concerned with the dilemma of supporting their immigrant Mexican grandmother (Miriam Cruz as "Eliana") as an undocumented New York City (NYC) worker. This film also stars established actors Ed Asner (famous from the 70s Mary Tyler Moore show) and Michael Madsen.
The thematic interplay of battling transphobia and seeking "resident" status is balanced out well. The performances of cast, break the usual tropes in how trans characters have been seen within the last 20 years in independent cinema. Notable recent independent films that can be seen at least for Trans Latinx representation is "Gun Hill Road" (2011) that starred "La Bamba" famed castmember, Esai Morales.
Alves's chosen location shots were relatively supportive of an undocumented life in an urban environment. It's also depicts community activism for the largely ignored situation that "Trans Lives Matter" and the importance for NYC's recent Trans Latinx hate crime awareness.
