Lingua Franca 2020

Olivia, a Filipina trans woman, serves as a dedicated live-in caregiver for Olga (portrayed by Lynn Cohen) in the vibrant Brighton Beach neighborhood of Brooklyn. Olga, an elderly Russian-Jewish woman, struggles with early stages of dementia, often doubting her own living environment and relying heavily on Olivia for reassurance. As someone living undocumented, Olivia constantly grapples with the fear of being detained by ICE agents, which adds a layer of anxiety to her life.

With her earnings primarily supporting her family back in the Philippines, Olivia also sends money to Matthew (played by Mark Nelson), her American boyfriend. She hopes their relationship might lead to a green card through marriage. However, her plans take an unexpected turn when Alex (played by Eamon Farren), Olga’s grandson, returns home after a stint in rehab, complicating Olivia’s already challenging life.

As Olivia patiently cares for Olga, navigating her needs skillfully, Alex struggles with his own demons, attempting to find a balance between sobriety and responsibility. He manages to secure a job at his uncle’s slaughterhouse, but his confrontational nature creates tension between him and Olivia. In a surprising twist, Olivia develops a crush on Alex after he reads out loud love letters from his late grandfather, leading to an emotional confession of her undocumented status and aspirations for a green card. Their distinct backgrounds form an unlikely bond, evolving into a romantic relationship—though unknown to Alex, Olivia is trans.

The story takes a darker turn when Andrei (played by P.J. Boudousqué), a drunken friend of Alex, snoops through Olivia’s personal items and steals money from her while she showered. In a shocking discovery, he finds Olivia’s passport, which reveals her previous identity. Although Alex learns about this sensitive information, he chooses to keep it a secret from Olivia, heightening her anxiety about an impending ICE raid. He concocts a story about a masked intruder to comfort her, further complicating their fragile trust.

Alex’s inner turmoil intensifies after he gets fired from the slaughterhouse for appearing drunk at work. Eventually softening towards Olivia, he seeks to comfort her during a distressing news cycle detailing immigration raids and deportations. In a moment of shared hope, he even considers marrying her, researching the marriage license process in New York. His path to redemption seems to start when he reassures her during a drunken overnight trip to Atlantic City, proposing marriage and a vision of a future family together.

However, Olivia finds herself hesitating as she feels the weight of truths yet to be shared. In a poignant scene, she insists Alex return her passport, signaling a rift in their plans. The story closes ambiguously; while it appears that Olivia chooses not to proceed with the marriage, she informs her family in the Philippines of a new job and someone special, still navigating her life amidst uncertainty. As the film concludes, Olga is once again lost in her fading memories.