Memento Intl., Anonymous Content Board Venice Trans Drama ‘Woman Of…’; Teaser Unveiled (EXCLUSIVE)
Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Memento International and Anonymous Content have boarded “Woman Of,” a bold Venice competition entry written and directed by Małgorzata Szumowska and Michał Englert.
The film is a pioneering trans drama set in against the landscape of the Polish transformation from communism to capitalism. “Woman Of” stars Małgorzata Hajewska-Krzysztofik as Aniela Wesoły, who lived more than half of her adult life in a provincial Polish town as a man. “Woman Of…” spans 45 years of the life of Aniela as she aspires to find personal liberty as a trans woman and faces hardships in marriage and parenthood, strained family relations and complicated attitudes in her environment. “‘Woman Of’ is the result of many years of work, a film that tells a story of a mature trans woman living in Poland, who does not fit the social norms of a traditional family,” said Szumowska and Englert, who have been working on movies together for over 20 years. “This is the first Polish film to feature so many trans and non-binary people cast in trans and cis roles alike, we are so grateful for their participation,” the pair continued.
Szumowska and Englert said it was important for them to “give emerging transgender actors and performers space not just to represent themselves but also to develop various characters.” North American sales will be handled by Anonymous Content and Memento International.
The latter will also be handling international rights to the film which marks the fifth collaboration with the filmmakers following “Mug” and “Body,” both of which won best director at the Berlinale, “Elles” which played at Toronto and the Berlinale” and “In the Name Of,” winner of the Teddy Award at the Berlinale.
