Maybe it is because they consider themselves as the old generation of kathoeys, or maybe it is because that is what they are used to. All four live in a rural town that may contribute to their struggles, and yet they all decide to stay there. The women acknowledge the true and false perceptions of the kathoey lifestyle. It’s hard and it’s sad, but it’s better than who she was before because she wasn’t truly living then. She has accepted her daily and lifelong struggles. Even though she isn’t happy, she is herself. But what can I do…I never wanted to be a man, even if being a ladyboy is more complicated”. Let my hair grow, feel pretty…So yes, my life is basically very sad. Disappointed that I had to wait so many years before I could be myself. One woman explains, “Yes, I am disappointed. They give an honest revelation about themselves and what they think it means to be a kathoey. In the final clips of the film, each woman is interviewed alone. Not because they want to, but because they think their partner will not understand or do not understand the “kathoey lifestyle”. They explain that their outgoing and free spirited personalities feels like it must be kept a secret. Most of their struggles stem from love and how to find love and acceptance. Every day almost seems static, and even so, problems arise and their struggles remain. Instead, it is an honest discussion with glimpses into their daily lives. They don’t have the same privileges as those in a city with a larger population and with more freedom to express themselves. Their lives differ from those in the city because they live in a smaller community, with the same people, and people who like to gossip. However, like most people, they desire to love and even say all they want is to be loved and to have children. The four women that are highlighted in the film live what some people would say to be simple lives. The kathoey community is a part of Thailand’s culture, and this documentary takes a look at it from a different angle and a different location. There is an entire industry and culture built around it from kathoey beauty pageants, called Miss Tiffany’s Universe, to nightly kathoey shows that bring in millions of tourists every year. Thailand, coined one of the most accepting countries for LGBTQA+ members, still has a long way to go with transgender and gay rights, but in comparison, it is the only Southeast Asian country in the process of legalizing same-sex marriage. The film, focuses on the microculture of Kathoeys in rural Northern Thailand rather than the in major cities, like Bangkok. Kathoeys in Rural Thailand Sited Microculture They all work at a rubber tree farm at night, while trying to survive and balance what they say is their “kathoey lifestyle” and finding happiness and love. The four kathoeys all live in the same area. There are reoccurring themes in the film that I noticed: lasting love and new vs old kathoeys. The director interviews each woman separately as they open up about their personal struggles with love from a significant other or with their family, as well as their perception of the other women’s lifestyles and struggles with finding love. Although most of their experiences take place in rural Thailand, it is juxtaposed with the popular idea of kathoeys in the lively capital, Bangkok, and with living a fast-paced life. This film addresses the stigma of transgender women in Thailand from the four women’s perspective. Each woman has a different story but is bonded by the struggles they face, both external and internal. Although this is a controversial phrase in western culture, it is preferred by transwomen in Thailand. They self-identify as “kathoey”, which translates to “ladyboy” in English. This documentary directed by Philippe Baben der Erde and Vincent Fournier focuses on four transgender women in rural Thailand.
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