By Judith Oehman
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 7/23/19 – In the charming setting of Plaza de La Raza I viewed The Garden Left Behind, an award winning film.
The Garden Left Behind which Bears Witness to Anti-Trans Violence
directed by: Flavio Alves,
written by: John Rotondo and Flavio Alves
produced by: Roy Gokay Wol
Music by: Robert Pycior
2019 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL
AUDIENCE AWARD
2019 WICKED QUEER BOSTON LGBTQ FILM FESTIVAL
AUDIENCE AWARD
2019 BENTONVILLE FILM FESTIVAL
BEST OF THE FEST AWARD
Hailed by critics as “Natural and graceful” (Hollywood Reporter), “Unforgettable” (RogerEbert.com), “speaks with heart and authenticity” (The Advocate), “an absolutely incredible film” (Film Inquiry), and “A vital piece of social justice cinema and a testament to the pain, strength and resilience of the trans community in America.” (Black Girl Nerds)”
The Garden Left Behind needs to have it’s seat at the table of LGBTQ cinema.
The is a film that is facing a difficult reception form the LGBTQ COMMUNITY.
It doesn’t take long for viewers to relate intimately with newcomer Carlie Guevar -one of nearly 200 trans women who auditioned for the role of Tina.
Tina plight – acceptance as a transgender woman in America and she struggles with daily fear undocumented people live with, fear deportation. Working as a gypsy cab driver to save money for her transition, Tina battles the constant anxiety of being undocumented.
She is a 30 year-old who is transitioning. Tina cares for, and is cared for by her grandmother, Eliana (Miriam Cru) who was left alone to raise Tina and who yearns to return to Mexico. Tina is always uncover, working as a gypsy cab driver to save money for her transition, Tina battles anxiety. After yet another brutal beating ends up in the death of Rose the transgenter community yells out for all to be seen and hear… Tina follows and then lends the group, at great cost to herself.
The Garden Left Behind writer and director Flavio Alves is timely in his desperate examination on the suffering of a populace who have no seat at the table. The death of transgenders is on the rise, most noticeable in the black transgender popularization. They are lack acceptance and/or protection from savagery both physically and emotion. A film that quietly brewing the cup of emotions stiffing our sense of social change, oppression, intolerance and acceptance. a boiling kettle steaming of emotions melting us until our fears are exposure. We the protected, those who do not know the violence and fear that greet other individuals at home, at work and on the street each day. we have a glimpses of the shadows of the soul, the suppression of ego. It sneaks up on you, slowly takes your self worth. We see how lack of acceptance take ones free will.
We are reminded that transgenders lead the way. The Compton’s Cafeteria Riot occurred in August 1966 in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco. This incident was one of the first recorded LGBT-related riots in United States history, preceding the more famous 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York Before Stonewall
There was vital and love and pain and empathy it has slowly dawn out on a blood soaked canvas
The Garden Left Behind transcends the character’s suffering because they defy the typical trans tropes often found in film. “This story depicts Tina as a real person,” explained Lovell (co producer) “We see her in some of the most vulnerable moments of her life simply trying to exist in a world that tells her she shouldn’t.”
this is a cast:
Mike
Devin Michael Lowe
as Shannon
Pablo González
as Magic Brandon
Christine Nyland
as Mary
Adam Kee
as Thomas
Will Krisanda
as Leo
Sarah Skeist
as Tricia
Edward Asner
as Dr. Cleary
Danny Flaherty
as Oscar
Alex Kruz
as Jason
Bernadette Quigley
as Dr. Brown
Miriam Cruz
as Eliana
Dawn Young
as Miriam
Anthony Abdo
as Chris
Brock Yurich
as Chester
Tamara Williams
as Carol
Frances Lozada
as Officer Gottilla
Kristen Parker Lovell
as Regina
Tym Moss
as Demos
Amanda M. Rodriguez
as Lily Villahermosa
Sidiki Fofana
as Adrien
Ivana Black
as Amanda
Lea Nayeli
as Brianna
worth remembering, we will see them again.
