Paper Dolls Review
By David Kempler
Unorthodox Transvestites
The most Odd Couple
Imagine if someone came to you with an idea for a book, movie or television show and the premise was elderly Hasidic Jews in Israel who take on caregivers that are Filipino transvestites. You would probably either laugh or call security. "Paper Dolls" is a documentary about this very subject, proving yet again that non-fiction is far more odd and interesting than fiction. However, this in no way guarantees a great time at the cinema, and this is very far from a great film.
After the second Intifada in 2000, Israel closed its borders to Palestinian workers. This left a void and all voids are eventually filled, albeit sometimes in unexpected fashions. This void was filled with workers, many of them illegals, from other countries, including Filipino transvestites. Unable to live out in the open in the Phillipines, Israel provided a more open society where they were tolerated, although barely by the ultra-religious. Yet, it is with the Hasidic community that many found work. As is always the case with illegal immigrant work, it is the kind of work that the natives of a country prefer not to take partake in.
Paper Dolls refers to the ten or so Filipino transvestites that perform as a lip syncing group on the streets and in for the most part seedy clubs. They're not very good at it and not exactly strikingly beautiful.
"Paper Dolls" is the work of Tomer Heymann, who both directed and wrote. He has two previous similar credits, one of which is named "Fucked Up Generation". Heymann is on both sides of the camera here, talking to the men/ladies and not just as a questioner. He also gets involved with trying to help them with other things, including attempts to evade capture by the Israeli police.
Despite this very unusual premise there is almost zero conflict in the first half of the movie. As Mr. Tenor, my 9th grade English teacher once told the class, no story can possibly work without conflict. By the time conflict appears in the form of a street bombing by Palestinians, you'll probably already have checked your watch a few times.
The saving grace of "Paper Dolls" is Haim, a 90 year-old man being taken care of by one of the 'ladies'. He shares genuine affection with her. His good humor against the odds of cancer that have rendered him without a voice box is compelling, touching and gives the audience one of the very few reasons to smile. What one would think might turn out to be a powerful film turns out to be paper flimsy.
