By Kim Longinotto and Jano Williams
From the makers of DREAM GIRLS, SHINJUKU BOYS introduces three onnabes who work as hosts at the New Marilyn Club in Tokyo. Annabes are women who live as men and have girlfriends, although they don't usually identify as lesbians. As the film follows them at home and on the job, all three talk frankly to the camera about their gender-bending lives, revealing their views about women, sex, transvestitism and lesbianism. Alternating with these illuminating interviews are fabulous sequences shot inside the Club, patronized almost exclusively by heterosexual women who have become disappointed with real men. This is a remarkable documentary about the complexity of female sexuality in Japan today.
Reviews
~ "…extraordinarily brave and honest, presenting issues commonly regarded as taboo and avoiding any pat answers." -Lesley Parkinson, Japan Times
~ "A fantastic documentary…The subjects are both intelligent and erudite." - Simon Hunt, Sydney Star
Awards
~ Chicago Film Festival, Silver Hugo
~ Houston Film Festival, Gold Prize
~ SF Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, Outstanding Documentary
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