Synopsis
In a celebration of the trans community in Puerto Rico, the fissure between internal and external is an ever-present battle. A unique exploration of self-discovery and activism, featuring a diverse collection of subjects that include LGBTQ advocates, business owners, sex workers, and a boisterous group of drag performers who call themselves The Doll House, Mala Mala portrays a fight for personal and community acceptance paved with triumphant highs and devastating lows.
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Recommendations
- 90
Village Voice
This film does not pander. Rather, it demands that the viewer rise to the occasion. - 90
Variety
Beginning as a colorful documentary about the Puerto Rican transgender community, candidly showcasing nine very different subjects, Mala Mala slowly morphs into a celebration of solidarity and collective activism without ever losing sight of its likable protagonists. - 83
The A.V. Club
Amid all the images of celebration and joyful physical abandon—including a showcase solo dance performance that functions as a kind of climax—the most lingering images are the ones depicting daily routines. - 80
The Hollywood Reporter
Its subjects are indeed a fascinating and diverse lot. - 70
The Dissolve
After spending time with all nine of these sometimes-gutsy, sometimes-conflicted women and men, it’s impossible not to feel a deeper appreciation for their struggle to feel like the skin they live in is genuinely their home. - 70
The New York Times
While affirming the dignity of its subjects, Mala Mala shows there’s little glamour attached to the pursuit of selfhood. - 50
Slant Magazine
The filmmakers aren't really interested in the space between what these women say and what they mean.
