Call Me Agnes (2024) by Daniel Donato: A Musical Journey of Identity and Truth

Short Summary: A Life on Pause

This Dutch comedy-drama-musical, directed by Daniel Donato, follows Agnes, a woman whose quiet life with her queer friends is upended by the unexpected arrival of her younger brother from Indonesia. As she grapples with the truth about her past, Agnes is forced to confront her deepest secrets in a surreal and heartfelt mix of musical numbers, fictionalized memories, and real-life drama, all in a poignant effort to reconnect with her family.

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33363848/

Link Review: https://filmkrant.nl/recensies/call-me-agnes/

About movie: https://www.filmfestival.nl/en/film/call-me-agnes

Link to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/es/pelicula/call-me-agnes (Spain), https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Daniel-Donato/dp/B0FFL5M9F8 (Germany)

Detailed Summary: A Dilemma and a Dance

• The story centers on Agnes, an Indonesian woman living in the Netherlands, whose life revolves around her friends, her passion for badminton, and running a small restaurant in her home with her best friend, Rini.

• Her world is turned upside down when her younger brother, Indra, arrives from Indonesia searching for their missing brother, Hans.

• Agnes finds herself in a profound dilemma: she must either continue a complex lie about her identity or reveal the truth, which could give her a chance to reconcile with her brother but may come at a great personal cost.

• The film explores Agnes's memories and life experiences through a unique blend of formats, including fictionalized scenes, musical numbers, and moments of real life.

• The narrative highlights Agnes's struggle to find a way to communicate her authentic self to her family while grappling with the fear of rejection and the weight of her past secrets.

Director's Vision: The Fusion of Life, Song, and Story

Director Daniel Donato's vision for Call Me Agnes is to blur the lines between reality and art, using a unique mix of genres to tell a deeply personal story. The film is a deliberate blend of comedy, drama, and musical numbers, reflecting how Agnes relives and re-enacts her memories and life experiences. Donato, who also co-wrote the screenplay, aims to use this experimental approach to create an intimate and authentic portrait of a woman's journey to self-acceptance and familial reconciliation.

Themes: Identity and Self-Acceptance, Family and Reconciliation, and The Power of Truth

• Identity and Self-Acceptance: A central theme is Agnes's struggle to reconcile her past self with her present identity. The film explores the challenges of being true to oneself, particularly when it conflicts with family expectations and cultural norms.

• Family and Reconciliation: The arrival of Agnes's brother from Indonesia forces her to confront her estranged family. The film examines the complex dynamics of family relationships and the difficult, often painful, path toward reconciliation.

• The Power of Truth: The core of the film's conflict lies in the central question of whether Agnes will tell the truth about who she is. The film ultimately serves as a testament to the liberating and powerful nature of honesty, even when it is difficult.

Key success factors: A unique genre blend, a personal narrative, and international authenticity

• A Genre-Bending Approach: The film's unique combination of comedy, drama, and musical numbers sets it apart from traditional narratives, offering a fresh and experimental viewing experience.

• A Personal Story: The film is co-written by and stars Agnes Geneva, suggesting a personal and intimate narrative that is grounded in real-life experiences, which lends a raw authenticity to the story.

• International and Cultural Specificity: With its cast and crew from the Netherlands, Indonesia, and other countries, and with dialogue in multiple languages, the film offers a rich and authentic look into a specific cultural and immigrant experience that is often underrepresented in cinema.

"Call Me Agnes," released in 2024, is a Dutch musical comedy-drama that marks the feature film debut of director Daniel Donato. Co-written by Donato, Lucas Camargo de Barros, and the film's star, Agnes Geneva, the film is a semi-fictionalized account of Geneva's own life as a trans immigrant woman from Indonesia living in the Netherlands. The film blends fiction, documentary elements, and musical numbers to tell a poignant story about identity, family, and self-acceptance.

Awards & Nominations: A Strong Festival Presence

"Call Me Agnes" has had a significant presence at international film festivals, particularly those focused on LGBTQ+ and independent cinema. While not winning major awards in every category, its nominations and selections indicate a positive reception.

• Merlinka Film Festival 2024:

  • Nominee: Best Feature Film - Jury Prize.

• Queer Lisboa 2024:

  • Official Selection.

• Mix Copenhagen LGBTQ+ Film Festival 2024:

  • Official Selection.

• Nederlands Film Festival 2024:

  • Official Selection.

Summary: "Call Me Agnes" has been recognized for its unique blend of genres and themes, earning a Best Feature Film nomination at the Merlinka Film Festival and official selections at several other prestigious LGBTQ+ and independent film festivals.

Critics' Reception: A Heartfelt but Flawed Debut

Critical reception for "Call Me Agnes" has been mixed, with many reviewers praising the film's heartfelt story and its star's powerful performance while also pointing out some of the film's narrative and structural weaknesses.

• VPRO Cinema (Netherlands): The Dutch publication gave the film a rating of three out of five stars, calling it a "loving and beautifully subtle account of identity, acceptance, and origin."

• Film-Rezensionen.de (Germany): This site offered a mixed review, stating that "Call Me Agnes" remains a "watchable film" thanks to its "strong main character." However, the review also criticized the film for being "an ambitious but immature mix of docu-drama, comedy, and musical" that fails to form a cohesive whole, making the emotional core feel "abstract" and the film "artificially drawn out."

• Film-Rezensionen.de further noted that while the lead, Agnes Geneva, is a "fascinating personality whose story touches and whose presence on screen conveys authenticity," the film's "indecisive direction" prevents the audience from fully connecting with her inner conflict.

Summary: Critics have a divided view on "Call Me Agnes." Publications like VPRO Cinema have praised its subtle and heartfelt nature, while others, such as Film-Rezensionen.de, have found it to be an ambitious but ultimately flawed debut. The film's primary strength is the authentic and moving performance by its star, Agnes Geneva, but its narrative structure and tonal shifts are often seen as its main weaknesses.

Reviews: A Trans Woman's Past and Her Uneasy Present

Reviews and festival synopses detail the personal and emotional plot of "Call Me Agnes," which uses a unique blend of formats to tell its story.

• The Protagonist's Life: The film centers on Agnes (played by Agnes Geneva), a trans woman from Indonesia who has built a new life for herself in the Netherlands. Her days are filled with playing badminton with her queer friends and running a small Indonesian restaurant out of her home with her best friend, Rini.

• A Confrontation with the Past: This quiet, carefully constructed life is disrupted when her younger brother, Indra, arrives unexpectedly from Indonesia. Indra, who only knew Agnes as her previous self, Hans, is searching for his brother.

• The Central Dilemma: Agnes is faced with a painful dilemma: to continue hiding her true identity from her brother and risk their relationship, or to reveal her truth and face the potential rejection and emotional fallout. The film explores the "ties of family [that] linger tenaciously in the body's memory" and the complex emotions involved in bridging the gap between one's past and present.

• Blending Genres: The film's narrative is a unique blend of fiction, real-life experience, and musical sequences. These musical numbers are used to express Agnes's inner thoughts and feelings, turning everyday moments into poetic reflections on gender, love, and belonging. The film is described as a "musical odyssey" told through a "transfeminist lens."

Summary: "Call Me Agnes" tells the story of Agnes, a trans woman from Indonesia who has built a new life in the Netherlands. Her carefully crafted life is upended when her younger brother, who only knows her as her past self, comes looking for her. The film is a personal and emotional exploration of her dilemma, using a unique mix of documentary, fiction, and musical numbers to portray her journey toward self-acceptance and the courage it takes to be oneself.

Why to watch this movie: For a Heartfelt and Unique Film

• A Fresh Take on a Familiar Story: The film's musical and fragmented approach to storytelling offers a unique and innovative way to explore universal themes of family and identity.

• A Compelling and Emotional Narrative: The central dilemma faced by Agnes is deeply moving and relatable, making for a powerful and heartfelt viewing experience.

• To Support Independent Cinema: As a low-budget, independent film, watching Call Me Agnes is an excellent way to support a new and promising director and a truly personal cinematic vision.

• A Celebration of Queer and Immigrant Identity: The film provides a nuanced and authentic look into the lives of queer and immigrant individuals, a perspective that is both timely and important.

Movie Trend: The Personal Arthouse Musical

Call Me Agnes follows the trend of the "personal arthouse musical," where independent filmmakers use music and song not for large-scale spectacle but to express a character's inner life and emotional turmoil. This trend subverts the traditional musical genre, making it a vehicle for intimate and introspective storytelling.

Social Trend: The Search for Authentic Identity

The film directly taps into the social trend of exploring and embracing authentic identity, particularly for individuals from marginalized communities. In an increasingly interconnected world, the film's focus on Agnes's journey to self-acceptance and the challenges of reconciling her identity with her family's expectations is a highly relevant and resonant social commentary.

Final Verdict: A Flawed but Fun Ride

Call Me Agnes is a heartfelt and unique film that promises to be a moving cinematic experience. With its genre-bending style, personal narrative, and focus on the universal themes of family, identity, and truth, it is a noteworthy independent feature. While its unconventional approach may not appeal to all audiences, for those who appreciate a fresh and honest story told with an artistic flair, Call Me Agnes is a film worth seeking out.