Paloma: Raindance 22 Review

18th December 2022

Paloma (Kika Sena) is a Brazilian transgender woman who lives with her husband Zé (Ridson Reis) and their adopted daughter. Her best friend is the only one who can really understand her though as she knows first-hand what it’s like to be a transgender woman and so they share a close bond.

Paloma’s other bond is with God, something that runs deeply through her and although she knows how she feels inside and is accepted by her family and friends, she doesn’t feel fully accepted by God.

So, Paloma sets out to try and see if she can be seen in the eyes of God just like any other woman and decides to write to the Pope to get his blessing. However, simply living as she is and wanting acceptance just isn’t enough.

Paloma is a Brazillian film directed by Marcelo Gomes and co-written by Gustavo Campos and Armando Praça. Inspired by a true story, it shows the life of a transgender woman as she wishes for acceptance and the film depicts her as such.

Showing Paloma’s life, throughout the film there are many moments where she is shown to have the same desires and wishes of any woman. The film also puts this alongside somebody living that same life that would be considered ‘normal’ if she were a cis woman. Coupling this with Sena’s understated, passionate and likeable performance, it shows a life full of potential.

However, Paloma does also show what it’s like to be a transgender woman and it is able to do so without shying away from the harsh realities. Although with the script being written by three men, it feels less authentic than the portrayal of its lead.

Also having been inspired by a true story and not going too far into the details of that, feels like a missed opportunity where something with more depth could have been explored. Paloma does start to feel like a film that’s trying to teach its audience about transgender women, but thankfully the realistic approach, Sena’s performance and the leisurely pace ensures that it’s not preaching to the choir.

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