Mutt is a drama directed by Vuk Lungulov-Klotz that features the journey of Feña as he transitions into a man. Ela Bicera reviews this film that was part of the QCinema International Film Festival 2023. Spoilers are present.
While Transitioning is a life-changing experience, it also comes with doubts, fears and worries. It’s not even the process itself that’s agonizing at times, rather it’s the people around you who don’t understand what’s beyond their moral capability.
MUTT (2023) shows Feña, a transgender man, who has to confront the three most important people in his life in one day, while walking to the path of transitioning into a man. His Father Pablo, who came back to America to visit him, his sister Zoe who showed up at his workplace wanting to hangout with him, and bumping into his ex-boyfriend John who just came back to town.
I really thought that facing these three characters alone would be heavy. But for Feña, confrontations, explanations and frustrations are his everyday meal. He has to explain to the bank teller that his boss forgets to use his legal name on checks, whispering to an old pharmacist to give him contraceptives without telling him that it’s for him to use, or even patiently explaining to straights as to why he doesn’t have a dick. It’s aggravating and disheartening to watch, but just imagine how Feña, or any transgender people feels? Constantly validating your existence to people who don’t really care, and you can’t react negatively without them calling you out on it or upsetting them.
Director Vuk Lungolov-Klotz really stripped himself bare with his own fears and insecurities on his debut feature film. But it feels as though it lacks opportunities to resolve as the pacing of the film is too fast. There’s so much to discover, to deal with, or to realize not just with Feña, but also with John, his sister and his Father. It only focused on Feña’s reactions to the said confrontations, and while it’s not a bad thing, it just wasn’t enough. Having this story told in such a short time frame even paints Feña in a negative light, because he wasn’t given much time to deal with his loved ones as humanly as possible. If that was the intention, I don’t think it worked.
I do love Lio Mehiel’s performance though. He portrayed Feña with great sensitivity and sincerity. I like how his portrayal of Feña walks and stands confidently, while his eyes are longing for affection and understanding. He showed Feña as to how Lungolov-Klotz intended, but with much empathy on his side. He’s the only saving grace to this film in my opinion.
My first thoughts on this film consist of so many questions, trying to make sense of the connection of each problem presented, emotions or reaction that was expressed. But I realized that the film is not meant to explain them, nor does Feña or Lungulov-Klotz himself. This is a film that exposes us to such an overwhelming experience of someone who’s been excluded by society for being true to himself. People like Feña have to act like a broken record not just with strangers, but also to his loved ones that oftenly forgets. All this film asks is for us to listen, with patience and love that we could give.
To you Lungolov-Klotz, I am sending embraces your way. It’s okay, I just hope you know that sometimes.
