Isabel Sandoval’s ‘Lingua Franca’ is now on Netflix

Netflix announced that Lingua Franca is now available to stream globally, starting Thursday, August 27. However, as of this writing, the film isn’t available on Netflix Philippines accounts yet.

Netflix released the trailer to Isabel Sandoval’s latest work on Twitter, introducing the film as an “understated love story about an undocumented Filipina trans caretaker in Brooklyn.”

LINGUA FRANCA is an understated love story about an undocumented Filipina trans caretaker in Brooklyn.

With nods to Chantal Akerman and Wong Kar-wai, Isabel Sandoval's latest gem — which she wrote, directed, produced, edited, and stars in — is now on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/uCaDtTyOEO

— Netflix Tudum (@NetflixTudum) August 26, 2020

Olivia, a Filipina trans woman and undocumented immigrant working as a caregiver in Brooklyn, tries to secure a green card from an American man she is paying. In the process, she ends up falling in love with a slaughterhouse worker, Alex.

Lingua Franca stars Isabel Sandoval (Olivia) herself, who also wrote, produced, and edited the film. Eamon Farren (Twin Peaks: The Return), Lev Gorn (The Americans), and Lynn Cohen (The Hunger Games) also star.

The film won the top prize Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature at the 2020 Bentonville Film Festival, an American festival that highlights stories told by minority voices in entertainment, such as the LGBTQ+ community, women, and people with disabilities.

It premiered at the Venice Film Festival in August 2019. It has also competed in other prestigious festivals, such as the British Film Institute London Film Festival and the Busan International Film Festival. – Rappler.com