I am Mario- when gender identity gets complicated

 

I AM MARIO

Writer/Director: Sharon Kleinberg

Stars: Hector Kotsifakis, Mayra Batalla, Mercedes Hernández

2026 Release

Running Time: 1 hr 33 min

Mario (Héctor Kotsifakis) is a 40‑year‑old trans taxi driver—masculine and deeply rooted in the culture of late‑night drinks and smoke‑filled conversations with his fellow drivers. On the surface, he’s confident and clear in his identity. 

But one night, after too much drinking, an unexpected encounter leads to an even more unexpected pregnancy.

What follows is a profound crisis of identity and desire. Mario must confront a choice he never imagined: continue with hormone therapy or carry the baby. At the same time, he’s just begun a meaningful relationship with a woman he genuinely cares for, forcing him to weigh the future he envisioned against the possibility of becoming a parent—something he loves in theory but never believed was possible for himself.

The film navigates the emotional and psychological complexity of this moment with honesty and tenderness. It’s a story about identity, bodily autonomy, love, and the impossible choices life sometimes throws at us. Mario’s journey reveals the deeply personal challenges of transitioning, not just physically but emotionally. It shows how the process can collide with relationships, dreams, and the unexpected realities of being human.

I found this story compelling. It offers an intimate look at the layers of the transgender experience. Life can get messy and painfully complicated. It’s a film that stays with you, inviting reflection and a deeper understanding of what it means to choose to transition to a different gender.

The Film Premiered at TIFF- Toronto International Film Festival.

Theatrical release information is not available at this time.

The Age of Goodbyes - breaking family curses

 THE AGE OF GOODBYES 

Director

Edmund Yeo

Cast

Vivian Sung

Stanley Yau

Troy Liu

Lixuan Siow

WORLD PREMIERE at TIFF 2026 - Toronto International Film Festival

Taiwan, Malaysia | 2026 | 142m | Mandarin, Cantonese, Malay, Thai, English

Vivian Sung shines as the enigmatic Du Li An in Edmund Yeo’s adaptation of Li Zi Shu’s award‑winning novel The Age of Goodbyes—a film that explores how family stories bend, blur, and reshape themselves over time. Memories fade, details shift, and what we call “truth” becomes something inherited rather than remembered.

The narrative is challenging, weaving between timelines and perspectives. We follow Kai (Troy Liu), a young boy who discovers a novel titled The Age of Goodbyes. It begins on page 513—a symbolic nod to May 13, 1969, one of the most pivotal and painful dates in Malaysian history. As Kai reads, he becomes absorbed in Du Li An’s world, slipping between fiction, memory, and the echoes of a nation’s past.

In 1969 Ipoh, Du Li An falls in love with Lin Sang (Stanley Yau), a man convinced he cannot be with her because of a family curse: the men disappear before turning thirty. When Lin Sang is forced to leave, Du Li An must rebuild her life. Years later, Mong Sang (also played by Yau) appears—Lin Sang’s twin brother—and she is pulled back into a love she never fully let go of. As Kai continues reading, he becomes entangled in the novel’s shifting histories, discovering how stories passed down through generations can transform like broken telephone.

The film is dense, layered, and rich with cultural and historical references. For viewers unfamiliar with Malaysian history—like me, a Canadian watching this with fresh eyes—the timeline jumps can feel disorienting. Honestly, this is a film you may want to watch twice to fully appreciate the connections and the emotional architecture beneath its structure.

But once you settle into its rhythm, The Age of Goodbyes reveals itself as a beautifully crafted story on memory, duty, family lineage, and the ache of a great love that never dies. The production design is lush and transportive; you feel immersed in each era. The casting is impeccable, especially Vivian Sung’s grounded, luminous performance.

This is the kind of international film that deserves attention in North America—subtitles or not. Every so often, a film like this finds the right champions and gains momentum during awards season. I truly hope this becomes one of those discoveries.

Even without prior knowledge of Malaysian culture or history, I found The Age of Goodbyes deeply moving, visually stunning, and worth revisiting. It’s a complex, rewarding experience that lingers long after the credits roll.

https://www.tiff.net/films/the-age-of-goodbyes

SCREENINGS

Friday, September 18

Scotiabank Theatre / 5:15 pm / Public Screening

and

Saturday, September 19

Scotiabank Theatre / 3:45 pm / Public Screening

Theatrical or Streaming release date unknown at this time.