Call Me Agnes
| Call Me Agnes | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Daniel Donato |
| Starring | Agnes Geneva Mak Rini Gianluca Koeswanto |
| Music by | S’yo Fang |
Release date |
|
Running time | 94 min |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Language | Indonesian |
Call me Agnes is a 2024 Dutch docufiction film by Brazilian director Daniel Donato, starring Agnes Geneva, Mak Rini and Gianluca Koeswanto.[1]
Plot
[edit]Agnes is a trans woman from Indonesia living in the Netherlands, where she spends her days playing badminton with her queer friends and running a restaurant inside her home with her best friend Rini. Her routine is disrupted when her younger brother Indra arrives from Timor, searching for his older brother Hans—unaware that Agnes has transitioned. As Agnes grapples with whether to reveal the truth, she is faced with the emotional challenge of seeking reconciliation with her brother while confronting the complexities of her identity and past.[1][2][3]
Production
[edit]The movie is a fiction and documentary hybrid in which the director explores the presentation of queer identities. The film is director Daniel Donato's feature film debut.[1] The Film was funded by the Netherlands Film Fund, the municipality of The Hague, Stroom The Hague, Vevam Steunfonds and Fonds ZOZ/het Cultuurfonds.[2]
The idea for the film emerged when Donato, after becoming friends with Agnes and hearing her story, proposed making a film in which she would have full control over how her past was portrayed. As Donato explains, the intention was to show Agnes not as a victim, but as someone who lives a joyful, beautiful life. Production of the film focused on authenticity and creative expression. Real-life memories and relationships were transformed into cinematic moments: playing badminton with her queer chosen family, working alongside her drag mother Rini, and sharing food steeped in cultural and emotional significance. Many scenes are deeply rooted in Agnes’s personal experience, such as the warmth of Indonesian cooking or the joy of queer nightlife. Others are pure fiction — like the imagined reunion with her brother. Music plays a central role in conveying her story, replacing conventional interviews with performed songs that celebrate love and connection.[4]
Release
[edit]The film premiered on 21 September 2024 at the Netherlands Film Festival 2024. The international premiere took place at Queer Lisboa International Queer Film Festival 2024.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Call Me Agnes - Movie - Festival QUEER". www.queerlisboa.pt. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
- ^ a b c "Call me Agnes – near by film" (in Dutch). Retrieved 2025-05-31.
- ^ "Call me Agnes". Nederlands Film Festival. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
- ^ "Cineville". www.cineville.nl. Retrieved 2025-05-31.