Paper Dolls

Paper Dolls is a new documentary film by Tomer Heymann (Tomer VeHasrutim, Aviv) playing at the Film Forum through next week. Originally a 6-part television series, it is about Phillipino homecare attendants in Israel caring for old people in the orthodox Bnei Brak who are also transexual and preform drag shows as the Paper Dolls in Tel Aviv at night. It is a really good and touching film. It touches on their status in Israel, the place of foreign workers, has one deportation and one bombing, and most notably the very touching relationship between Sally and her patient Chaim. He gives her the poetry of Yehuda Amichai to improve her Hebrew skills and they have a genuine and beautiful filial relationship. Go see this if you can.

There is a podcast with the director at the Film Forum site.

Kav La’oved is a non-profit that works with foreign workers in Israel.

Do They Catch Children Too? is an amazing documentary on the plight of the Israeli-born children of foreign workers.