Carlotta (2014)

Sadly Over-hyped

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

I was always wondering whos story it was when I watched Priscilla, Queen of the Dessert. Now I know. And I am grateful that I could watch this amazing true story. I was struggling with the fact that they casted the beautiful, the stunning Jessica Marais to play Carlotta and I thought it would have been better if they'd casted a transwoman or a drag queen. But then I saw original pictures and video clips of the real Carlotta and OMG, WOW.....what a beauty she was and still is! And now I think they did right to cast Jessica Marais who did a fantastic job. Yes, nobody would believe that she ever was a bloke - but that's the same with the real Carlotty/Carol. Beside the personal story of Carol this movie shows a bit of the time back then. Not much though but for those who know, it is enough. I enjoyed this movie.

This movie Brought back so many memories of friends, a nd acquaintances from my early 20's when i was living in Sydney in the early 1980's. Rite up till 2007 I've personally met Carlotta on a number of occasions socially and professionally.I'm so lucky to have had the privilege of even working with many of Sydney's show girls making long life friends This film is really moving. actually a real tear jerker for me. Great real life story of what really went on in those days . I know cos I was there amongst it all living locally in Kings Cross and Darlinghurst and without a doubt "Quite frankly darlings" if you haven't seen it, its an absolute must watch. Love it, love it, love it. "Congratulations Carol " love from Adrian , in my heart forever! ...mean it x x x

Carlotta is the story of Richard Byron a young boy first played by Kai Lewins (definitely one to look out for) who was never like the other boys who he preferred dressing up in his mother's clothes, makeup and jewellery and had a unhappy childhood as he was psychically abused by his stepfather and so from the age of 16 now the role taken over by Jessica Marais moves to Kings Cross to work in a department store where meets Ava/Danny (Eamon Farren) and Christopher (Socratis Otto) who take Richard under their wing and introduce him to the world of drag and cabaret shows. Alex Dimitriades is brilliant as ever as Ava's abusive boyfriend Angelo, Anita Heigh is exceptional as Richard/Carol's mother who is a victim in a loveless marriage and Ryan Johnson is amazing the love of Carol's life Peter who loves her for she is a person. Overall the movie is an A grade production with the whole cast, amazing costumes and thank you director Samantha Lang and writer David Hanam and Carlotta for bringing this to the screen.

As good as Jessica Marais is as an actress, it is an obvious case of miscasting for her to have been chosen to play a role which is so much calling-out to be portrayed by an actor and not an actress. Did Carlotta select Ms Marais simply to be recognised as a very beautiful and svelte woman of incredible feminine appeal? Realistically, Carlotta should have been assigned to the talents of a professional drag-queen such as Courtney Act. The whole movie collapses simply because we can not visualise the stunning Jessica Marais as having ever been a boy! After all, it would have suited the purposes of the plot for viewers to actually witness a man delivering the attributes required for a transgender to make the grade as a successful showgirl.