Tales of the Waria

Kathy Huang's sympathetic documentary gives voice to Indonesia's waria community: i.e., men who live openly as women. Since the country is predominantly Muslim, waria believe they must return to God as men, so reassignment surgery isn't an option, but since they also used to assist the king in pre-Islam times, waria have long been accepted as part of society. Huang begins in Makassar with a waria beauty pageant in which the participants go all out with feathers and sequins. Former contestant Mami Ria, who works in a beauty salon, says, "I never knew how to be a real boy," although she eschews makeup and maintains a short hairstyle. For 18 years, Ria has been involved with a married man, Pak Ansar, whose wife, Ely, says she doesn't mind. If anything, they all seem close, although Ria worries that Ansar is growing tired of her, because she's getting older. Suharni, who is HIV+, has a history of shared needles and unprotected sex, but now enjoys a committed relationship with Madi. Money is tight, however, so she leaves for a time to work in Bali, where the pay is better. If Ria and Suharni seem relatively happy with their lives, interviewee Firman says he regrets the time he spent as a waria, but even though he has put the past behind him in order to marry and have kids, Firman still hangs out with his waria friends (he and Suharni also work as hairstylists). Tiara, however, can't imagine living any other way, even though her boyfriend broke up with her because she would never be able to have children. Still, Tiara concludes, "Warias exist to make this life more beautiful." An interesting profile that is a natural for LGBT collections, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)