Trans sex work is pretty underrepresented on the silver screen. Though there are some great existing documentaries, there are few fictional features, and even fewer that are actually any good. These are our 3 essential films to watch that shed light on the lives of trans sex workers.
Funeral Parade of Roses
The first time you watch Funeral Parade of Roses, you might not have a singular clue what’s going on, but you’ll keep watching solely for the captivating visuals.
It’s poetic, horrific and explosive. On a second watch, you’ll start to understand better the crazy plot line: (the story is a loose adaptation of Oedipus Rex- need we say more?).
We follow transfeminine Eddie and her experiences in Tokyo’s 1960’s underground queer scene: the gay bar she works at, the people she interacts with, the places she goes. This is intermixed with unchronological flashbacks to her childhood. One of our favourite aspects of the film is that it is part-documentary, interviewing actual trans women at the time in Tokyo about their sexuality and identity. This film is so special in many ways, but particularly for how it provides a glimpse at the lives of trans sex workers at a very specific point in time in a very specific place. It manages to be both hauntingly dreamlike yet forcefully real. A must watch.
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Tangerine
Shot on an iPhone 5s, Tangerine is living proof to the boys with their toys that you don’t need expensive cameras to make an award winning film.
The story is set in Hollywood on Christmas Eve and focuses on trans sex worker, Sin-Dee Rella, who fresh out of a 28 prison sentence meets up with her bestie Alexandra (also a trans sex worker). Alexandra reveals to Sin-Dee that her pimp (& boyfriend), Chester, has cheated on her with a cis woman whilst she was in jail. As they try to track down Chester and his new girlfriend, we get a glimpse into their lives as trans sex workers in LA. The film manages to be hilarious, whilst showing the harsh realities for trans sex workers in Hollywood. The uniqueness of the iPhone camera makes it feel unusually realistic for a feature film.
Tangerine was originally going to be more of a sob story, but director, Sean Baker (who went on to make The Florida Project and Anora) became close to two trans women who inspired him to show the harshness of trans sex worker life in Hollywood but with humour too- because that would be more realistic. The iPhone camera adds to this realism, in a way not seen before on the big screens, making it a truly unique watch.
Wild Side
It’s arthouse vibes, early 2000s and French- what more could you want?
Named after Lou Reed’s hit, Walk on the Wild Side, this French language film premiered in 2004. Wild Side is a meditative and fragmented tapestry that focuses on three marginalised people within society and their feelings about nationality, sexuality, gender and family. Played by non-professional actors (because there were no professional trans actors in France at the time), director Sébastien Lifshitz put authenticity at the forefront of his film at a time where it could’ve been way easier to just hire a cis actor. Kudos to him.
We follow Stéphanie, a transgender sex worker who moves back to her small hometown in France to look after her sick mother. Her two flatmates join her: Algerian hustler, Jamal and Russian night worker, Mikhail. As both men fall in love with her, we witness Stéphanie’s contrasting experiences of sadness in regards to her mother, but excitement and discovery as she begins a relationship with the two men.
Through showing society’s disapproval of her plus her mother’s misunderstanding and misgendering of her we are shown societal attitudes towards trans people at the time and yet we are still able to celebrate the beauty of Stéphanie, through the lens of her lovers, who adore and desire her.
It’s always refreshing to see a sex worker film that explores other subjects and doesn’t necessarily rely on the protagonist’s profession being the only drive for the narrative. Not to mention the beautiful cinematography. Wilde Side is an elegant, understated and thoughtful film.
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Read: 3 essential lesbian BDSM films.
Iso
Iso is a writer and filmmaker based in East London. She is passionate about all things erotic and leads a sexy, shame-free life in hope that she can inspire others to do the same. Originally from a Northern seaside town, she is naturally drawn to the best things in life: candyfloss, trashy karaoke bars and heart-shaped sunglasses.
