PAPER DOLLS aka BUBOT NIYAR

Year: 2006
USA: Strand Releasing
Cast: Sally Comatoy "Sally", Chiqui Diokno "Chiqui", Giorgio Diokno "Giorgio", Troan Jacob Libas "Jan", Efrenito Manalili "Nits", Jose Neil T Datinguinoo "Neil", Francisco P Ortiz Jr "Cheska", Eduardo Javar ""Rika"" (R.I.P), Chaim Amir (R.I.P), Noa Heymann
Director: Tomer Heymann
Country: Israel
Languages: Hebrew / English / Tagalog (English subtitles)
USA: 80 mins
USA Release Date: 6 October 2006 (Limited Release - Los Angeles)
USA Release Date: 6 September 2006 (Limited Release - New York)
US Distributor

Synopsis

Winner of the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the 2006 Los Angeles Independent Film Festival and Winner of the Panorama Audience Award at the 2006 Berlin International Film Festival Tomer Heymann's moving documentary explores the role of immigrant workers in Western culture, and delves into the lives of societal outcasts seeking freedom and acceptance.

After closing the border to Palestinian workers, Israeli authorities sought to fill gaps in the job market by enticing workers from other parts of the world. Among those who answered the call were Filipinos in various stages of gender transition. These individuals who see themselves in a female persona, shunned by their families and communities at home, build new lives in Israel as caregivers for elderly, orthodox Jewish men, many of whom come to look upon them as substitute children.

On their nights off, the workers perform as a drag queen ensemble, 'Paper Dolls,' in Tel Aviv nightclubs. Although the troupe's members enjoy Israel's liberal atmosphere, they are still outsiders and are always treated as such.