‘Mutt Review: An Intimate DayintheLife Drama Follows A Young Person In Transition
While queer and transgender visibility has its limits, it cannot be denied that trans men and trans men have traditionally been marginalized in the struggle for transgender representation. Through no fault of queer and trans storytellers, there has been so much room in the mainstream media and culture in general for trans stories to be considered understandable and digestible. Now, nearly a decade after what Time magazine called a "transgender divide", film and television are finally starting to tell transgender stories that transgender viewers and the queer community can resonate with. While it started a long time ago, this year's Sundance Film Festival gave it a healthy boost.
In his American drama competition debut, Matus tells the story of a day in the life of Feni (Leo Mechiel), a young transgender boy living in New York City. During a hot and sometimes rainy day, Fenya finds herself between the stages of transition, growing up and relationships, just trying to get through the day. Thanks to the charismatic performance of newcomer Mechiel, "Mat" continues to focus on his dynamic hero as he gracefully travels through a broken and heartbroken city that never sleeps. When three people from the past push Fanny in different directions, "Mut" sometimes gets sidetracked, but manages to weave together some great moments between the two.
Writer-director Vuk Lungulau-Klotz makes a successful debut with a personal story depicting special moments with great attention to detail and a sensual tone. As the executive producer of Silas Howard, who starred as the first trans male character alongside Harry Dodge in Sundance's 2001 debut Screams and Lies, Matus is witness to the exciting evolution of transgender cinema today.
We first meet Fenya smoking a cigarette outside a stranger's party, where she painfully notices her ex-boyfriend John (Cole Doman). We leave a lot of space between the naturalistic dialogue and the need to flesh out the details of their romance, even if John's admiration for Feni's looks suggests they met before she started dating. The initial awkwardness fades after a few puffs in the bathroom and a sweaty night of basketball, and they soon seek solace from the summer rains at the 24-hour launderette.
sun dance
They are able to see each other better under harsh artificial lighting (thanks to cameraman Matthew Pottier for making the laundry sexier) and John finally expresses his curiosity. "I've never seen anything like it," she says softly, referring to Fenya's new male breasts. Both actors have a compelling screen presence and chemistry, and when they finally hit it off, you'll completely forget they're in a laundromat. The wonderful Doman, who first appeared in Stephen Cohn's Henry Gamble's Birthday, plays a serious benefactor who defends himself by masking his vulnerability with a low voice and a slight curve.
In the morning, a switch was flipped in John, and he became cold and aloof again, leaving Fenya alone to deal with his mixed feelings. But he doesn't have much time to think as he ambushes his little sister Zoe (Mimi Ryder), who has run away from their mother after another round of bullying. Although there are a few good moments in this little vignette, if John is left out for too long, the film starts to lose focus. This is where the film moves into more predictable everyday territory. Feno cut off his head on the subway, was unable to get his paycheck, and was locked in his apartment. As history fills with more and more visible forms, this marvelous naturalism begins to crumble. With the upcoming visit of Fenya's father adding to the excitement, there's a lot to tell in this short character study.
The final scene with John is the strongest, mostly due to the sheer dramatic power of Doman's acting, but it feels empty. There is a dissonance between Feni's portrayal in the script and Mechiel's character. When Johannes says, "People don't hate you because you're transgender, they hate you because you're skinny." But the Fenya we see seems kind and emotionally mature, maybe a little forgetful, but responsible and thoughtful towards her friends and family. It holds up pretty well for a dirty teenager in transition.
The name "Dark" suggests a cross between worlds and languages, gender and sexuality. But it seems that Fenya was not caught at all. he looks pretty confident. It is the conditions in his life that cause him stress. This is a message as powerful as any other.
Grade B
Matus premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and is currently seeking distribution in the United States.
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