"ELVIS & MADONA"
Director: Marcelo Laffitte
Trevor's Rating: 4 / 5 Stars

This was a charming little film. Elvis (played by the very sexy Simone Spoladore) is a soft-butch pizza delivery "girl" whose first assignment is to bring a huge heart of palm pizza to Madona (played by Igor Cotrim). Madona has just been the unfortunate victim of an assault and burglary by her dangerous lover, "Tripod Joe" (played by the truly villainous looking Sérgio Bezerra), who stole all of Madona's life savings after holding her up at gunpoint. Elvis of course swoops in to save the day.

Rare is the occasion for a transwoman character and a lesbian character to be seen romantically involved on screen. And for that, this movie brings us a new kind of story that is exciting and refreshing. The actor playing Madona is sadly not a transsexual -- as director Marcelo Laffitte reveals in an interview about the film's premier at Tribeca. But Cotrim does a great job bringing the quirky, eccentric Madona to life -- and does an especially good job when Madona goes in drag as a man to meet Elvis' parents. A male actor playing a transwoman playing a straight man. Incredible.

This film is something like a romantic comedy with a dash of drama thrown in, and should be regarded as such. It doesn't take itself too seriously, which is the film's best asset. The characters don't ponderously struggle with identity politics or over how they're going to have sex -- they just do it. This is what a lot of people -- trans, queer, and gay alike -- want out of LGBT cinema. Sure, we want to think critically about our lives and our politics, but sometimes we just want to munch on popcorn and see films that relate to our lives but that don't require too much thinking.

As I said, very charming. If the film makes a stop in your city, be sure to see it. No news on distribution yet, I think. Let's keep our fingers crossed!

Here's a few clips for your enjoyment: