Film Review: Mala Mala (18) (Puerto Rico/U.S.A. 2014) (Directors: Antonio Santini & Dan Sickles) (Spanish & English with English Subtitles) (Scottish Premiere), Filmhouse, Screen Two, Edinburgh, Sunday 17.05.2015, 20:35

This is a documentary which follows 9 individuals who reside in Puerto Rico, all of whom identify as transgender in some way or other. It felt refreshing for such a subject area to be focused upon in this manner. 

In the initial section of the documentary it appeared as if the usual stereotypes regarding being trapped in performing drag-acts or as some part of the sex industry where the focus for the film makers. Though I am glad to say that the scope of the film broadened as it went on. 

The film showed mark contrast between people modifying themselves physically to achieve some sense of self-expression and examples where the process either had not gone well due to some back-street/illegal approach or it appearing as if the person had made the modifications for the benefit of others. The film in a gentle way also focused upon prejudice/persecution experienced in terms of normal opportunities within job markets and the ghettoisation of communities and creative self-expression. 

The film also showed that these strong characters are making very reasoned approaches to try to breach the ghettoisation and reach for normal visibility within their society and wider culture. 

I felt the film overall to be fairly well balanced. I appreciated the fact that they did not deny the difficult elements of life for these people, though they did not dwell on the negative either. I did feel though that if the film was slightly longer they could have had greater depth the their depictions of these characters. 

Overall I found the film well made and I have little criticism of it. One thing of note though , towards the end of the film there was a lot of focus, and quite rightly so, on how people who are transgender are so much more than their bodies/sex. This was then followed up by one of the characters dancing around in an overtly sexual manner while the end credits are shown, which felt a tad contradictory. A minor issue, in what was largely an enjoyable and engaging documentary. 

Rating: 09/10.