Lingua Franca follows Olivia, a Filipina trans woman working as a caregiver for Olga in New York. In the Trump era of heightened hostility, fear and uncertainty, Olivia’s options for securing legal status in the US are diminished. When her pursuit of a marriage of convenience is disrupted and Olga’s grandson moves in after a spell in rehab, Olivia’s personal life, ambitions and identity begin to cave in on themselves.
Presented in collaboration with TAPE Collective as part of Found in Translation: a celebration of the incredible work of US-based Filipina filmmaker and actress Isabel Sandoval, exploring themes of culture clash and desire.
Found in Translation is made possible with the support of the BFI, awarding funds from the National Lottery in order to bring this project to more audiences across the UK.