Best Foreign Language Oscar film ‘A Fantastic Woman’ a knockout that stays with you

The central figure is a trans woman named Marina (magnetic Daniella Vega) who’s shattered by the sudden death of her partner. Forbidden by his family from attending his funeral, and forced to give up the apartment they shared, Marina has to fight one battle after another simply to survive.

Directed with insight by Chile’s Sebastian Lelio (“Disobedience”), “A Fantastic Woman” is not only a study in strength, but it also looks at the gap in humanity between Marina and a cadre of folks who pride themselves on being “normal.” A must-see. On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu. Also New to VOD and Streaming Vazante: Shot in breathtaking black-and-white, the debut film by Daniela Thomas masterfully captures what life must have been like on a decaying farm in Brazil in the early days of the 19th century. The central figure is a teenager named Beatriz (Luana Nastas), who despite being married off to her late aunt’s husband (Adriano Carvalho) winds up feeling more comfortable in the company of the property’s African slaves. Full of keen observations about colonialism, feminism and race, “Vazante” suffers a bit from pacing problems, but its characters and setting are so highly original that it sweeps you away. On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu. The Lodgers: A masterful use of water imagery turns this gothic thriller into something uniquely terrifying. It’s set in a decaying mansion in rural Ireland where twin teenagers Rachel (Charlotte Vega) and Edward (Bill Milner) are forced to sequester themselves for fear of disturbing spirits who reside “beneath.” When Rachel meets a local lad, she longs to rebel, which stirs up heaps of trouble. Even though a few more twists would have been welcome, “The Lodgers’ still conjures up plenty of ghostly bumps in the night. On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu.

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