Fantastic Woman, A

In "A Fantastic Woman," Marina (Vega) and Orlando (Reyes), an older man, are in love and planning their future, when one night Orlando suddenly falls ill and passes away. Instead of being able to mourn her lover, Marina is treated with suspicion by authorities and with disdain by his family. She is forbidden to attend his funeral and thrown out of the apartment they shared. Marina is a young transgender waitress and singer, and for most of Orlando's family, her sexual identity is a perversion. So she must battle the very same forces that she has spent a lifetime fighting just to become the woman she is now—complex, strong, forthright and fantastic. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary with Director Sebastián Lelio, a making-of featurette (HD 33:02), a theatrical trailer, and upfront previews.

The 2.39:1 1080p AVC picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, upconverted to 2160p with greater resolution and luminance, was photographed digitally using the Arri Alexa XT camera system and sourced from a 2K master Digital Intermediate format. The picture, from the opening magnificent waterfalls, exhibits a stylized naturalness with superb clarity and sharpness. The color palette is nicely saturated with warm and rich hues that often pop. Fleshtones are perfectly natural throughout. Contrast is well balanced with deep blacks and revealing shadow delineation. Resolution is superb with fine facial features, hair, clothing, and object textures that are finely detailed. This is a crisp, sharp visual experience with a striking color palette that is pleasing throughout. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1-channel soundtrack is in Spanish with English subtitles. The sonics are great, with a terrific orchestral score that occupies a wide and deep soundstage and extends to the surrounds. Atmospherics enhance the realism of the locations, and Foley sound effects are nicely articulated. Dialogue is clear and articulate with a slight forward presence. The subtitles are clear and effectively positioned at the bottom of the frame for easy reading. Surround envelopment is generally subtle but effective. Deep bass is limited to a few sound effects and to a disco club scene. Generally, this is a dialogue-focused movie with nicely supported dynamics and good fidelity. Listening to "Time" by the Alan Parson Project, under the credits, is wonderful. (Gary Reber)