Bubot Niyar

Paper Dolls is a candid approach to documenting the life of a group of transsexual Filipino immigrants in Tel Aviv. The director, a gay man himself, does not conceal his bias and prejudice when he introduces and interviews the main characters of his film. It is very interesting and sweet witnessing how he sheds his own homophobia (tranniephobia, should we say?) and develops respect and affection towards the Paper Dolls. The social clashes shown in this movie are deep: Religion, Class, Ethnicity, and Sexuality. This group of pre-op trannsexuals strive to integrating into mainstream society by being accepted and succeed as artists. Nevertheless, they are not willing to compromise their identity nor become exotic attractions. At the end of the movie, the conflicts and contradictions won't disappear. It will be their strong emotional ties, the ties of an alternative family, what will make the Paper Dolls survive while confronting the harsh reality of living as an outsider... On a side note, put attention during the opening tittles to the sweet rendition of "Que Sera, Sera", sang by Brazilian glory Caetano Veloso.