Lingua Franca

Synopsis

Olivia (Isabel Sandoval), an undocumented Filipina trans woman, lives a life defined by invisibility in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. Working as a live-in caregiver for Olga (Lynn Cohen), an elderly Russian-Jewish woman in the early stages of dementia, Olivia carefully saves every dollar to support her family back home and to fund a marriage of convenience that would secure her a green card.

Her precarious world shifts with the arrival of Olga’s adult grandson, Alex (Eamon Farren). Fresh out of rehab and struggling to find his footing, Alex is drawn to Olivia’s grace and quiet strength. As an unexpected and tender romance blossoms between them, Olivia is forced to navigate the complexities of her secret identity and her legal status. In a landscape where trust is a luxury and deportation is a constant shadow, Olivia must decide if a life of security is worth the cost of her self-worth and honesty.