Lingua Franca

Asia Society presents a screening of Lingua Franca, the acclaimed feature film written, directed by, and starring Isabel Sandoval. Set in Brooklyn, the film follows Olivia, an undocumented Filipina trans woman navigating work, immigration challenges, and an unexpected romance while pursuing a path toward legal residency in the United States.

Released in 2019, Lingua Franca was widely praised for its nuanced portrayal of trans identity and immigrant life. Rather than focusing solely on hardship, the film offers a deeply human story about love, belonging, and the desire for stability in an uncertain world. Sandoval became one of the first trans women of color to write, direct, and star in a feature released by a major distributor in the United States.

The screening is part of Asia Society’s Desire & Solitude: The Cinema of Isabel Sandoval retrospective, which highlights the groundbreaking filmmaker’s contributions to contemporary queer cinema. The series offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience Sandoval’s work on the big screen and examine the recurring themes of intimacy, displacement, and identity that run throughout her films.

For LGBTQ+ audiences, Lingua Franca stands as one of the most significant queer films of the last decade. Its intersectional perspective on gender, race, immigration, and class has made it a touchstone in modern trans cinema and an essential work for anyone interested in contemporary queer storytelling.