immaginaria MARGARITA is a touching and hilarious film which takes its first steps from free and proud lesbianism but, step by step, let you go trough the immigrants tragedy, the precarious job drama and the introjected homophobia. Since the first screening in Italy (where we still daily face with all this issues!), it was a great success and a lot of the most important "affermative actions" associations still get in touch with us to be linked to the directors to organize screenings. The film is directed in a brilliant and exciting way by two of the most respected directors in the women independent cinema industry. We were in touch with Dominique Cardona and Laurie Colbert since 1993 screening their first works and we are proud to have had in our 20- years programming most of their works. They put their best in the actor/actresses choices and in the film photography which let you feel in the far Canada from the first to the last scene. They love Canada and you can easily feel it and after the screening you will also love Canada and the Canadians! We wish Dominique/Laurie all the best and we look forward to screen their next work, having from them the great gift of a positive, mindful and thoughtful women' cinema. IMMAGINARIA - International Women's Film Festival (Rebels, Lesbians, Eccentrics)

Tad Martin It's so nice to come across a movie with gay characters where sexuality is not the central issue. This is a lovely film about the struggles of a real family to stay together and find some authenticity in a world that basically resents authenticity. The fact that the title character is a lesbian is completely ancillary to the plot. We need more films that refuse to qualify love and that deal with homosexuality as fact as opposed to argument. It's 2014, for god's sake. We're past it. Honestly I can't say enough good things about this movie. You could tell that the actors loved what they were doing - the woman who plays the mother is mesmerizing funny. The lead character, "Margarita" is hypnotic, maybe because it's just such a relief to see a character dealing with problems that have nothing to do with who she loves.

ArianeD I saw this movie at the "International Women's Film Festival" in Creteil, France, where it won the " Audience Award" for Best feature.I was pleasantly surprised by this small budget film.It is an insightful, intelligent, moving and funny movie. This film is extremely well done. The casting and the acting is spot on, the characters very multi faceted and never caricatural.The relationaship of the parents ranges from screaming matches to romantic interludes (like any couple), showing the imperfections of the intimacy of a couple's life, but as the movie advances, their humanity takes over and they choose to take the high road and follow their heart despite their financial difficulties Although this is labeled a "lesbian" movie, it is actually a movie about life and love and human relationaships that happens to have a lesbian character. The homosexuality is part of the story but it absolutely does not define it The filming and directing is fast paced and aesthetic, and the music extremely well adapted to the storyline, reflecting the interior world or Margarita.It succeeds in dealing with a tough issue in a smart and entertaining manner. It is thoughtprovoking without ever being judgemental.Congratulations!!!!!

Red-125 Margarita (2012) is a Canadian film co-written and co-directed by Dominique Cardona and Laurie Colbert. Margarita is a talented,intelligent, industrious woman who works for an upscale family in Toronto. She has worked and lived in their home for eight years. In fact, as they frequently tell her, she's just like family.Ben is a dentist and Gail is a physician, so you would assume that their financial situation is at least adequate. However, overspending and poor investments have left them in serious financial trouble. In fact, the movie opens with repo men towing away their car because the couple hasn't kept up with the payments.Finally, after looking at all their options, the couple decides they have to fire Margarita. The plot of the movie revolves around the consequences of that decision.The basic situation is complex enough. However, there's even more to it than meets the eye. Margarita is an undocumented immigrant. Gail had planned to work in Africa for Doctors without Borders, but the closest she came to this was to name her daughter Mali. Ben complains that he has spent his career whitening teeth, rather than dealing with serious dental problems. Mali, the teenage daughter, is bonded to Margarita, and can't believe they'll be separated. Margarita is a lesbian, which is a further complication as she struggles to remain in Canada. (The good news is that same-sex marriage is legal in Ontario.) Nothing is quite what it seems, and nothing is easy.The film displays the real talents of Patrick McKenna as Ben, Claire Lautier as Gail, Mayra Ritter as Mali, and, especially, Nicola Correia Damude as Margarita.The movie was shown in Rochester's Dryden Theatre as part of the marvelous Image Out--the Rochester LGBT Film & Video Festival.