After many years of living in the city, a transgender woman has to go back to her remote hometown to attend her father’s funeral. She finds the village has changed greatly, and that the villagers have become extremely religious. Sara also discovers that her mother suffers from dementia and treats her like a complete stranger. Basbeth carefully analyzes the subtle emotions of all his characters. Sara ia a film about sacrifice, childhood trauma, family and reconciliation. The issue of religious fanaticism, rather than being presented in irrefutably good or bad terms, is depicted as a shifting cultural space. No one chooses the family that they are born into but Sara can choose her own life the way she wants it. The film features Oscar Lawalata, a famous fashion designer in the title role. Sara’s mother is played by world renowned actress Christine Hakim. (John BADALU)