The story
Bambie is a F.O.W. (Filipino Overseas Worker). Now in her 40s, she has lived and worked as a hairdresser in downtown Athens for the past four years. “Rough Cut” tells Bambie’s story, while also zeroing in on immigration issues and the family most Filipino women in her situation are forced to leave behind, playing mother, daughter and wife from afar. Same as many others, Bambie's relatives are completely dependent on her financially, but there's one thing that makes her different to all the rest: she is a male-to-female transgender!
Her sexuality however is not the main issue. "Roughcut" is about Bambie the person, and the different roles she assumes in her everyday life. Hairdresser, entertainer, mother, wife and daughter, the fact that she's the main breadwinner, makes her the final decision maker in her remote household.
Locally known as "bakla", Filipino male-to-female transsexuals are forced to assume an exclusively female identity - no space for in-betweeners in their seemingly tolerant community - a responsibility which carries over to whatever country they happen to find themselves in. As a result, Bambie is always immaculate (never a hair out of place!) and is never seen without a full suit of armor: high heels, slinky clothes and strategically applied makeup are her daily essentials, even if she rarely leaves the house - unless it's for work.
She spends endless hours at her hairdresser's shop, which doubles as her apartment, and takes on extra work organizing weddings and pageants for the Filipinos in Athens. Her professionalism, in combination with her good looks and pleasant disposition, have made her very popular and she is rarely out of work.
Bambie's Greek residence permit has expired which renders her unable to leave the country if she ever wants to be allowed to return. Her dream is to be reunited with her partner and her 6-year-old son - your typical Filipino immigrant story - but Bambie's status as breadwinner is the only thing that buys her respect in her country of origin. If she is unable to provide her relatives with the comforts they obviously enjoy, she would have a much harder time being accepted for what she is. Money equals respect and that's the sad reality she's currently trapped in. Not that she would ever allow this "minor detail" to bring her down.
Her sexuality however is not the main issue. "Roughcut" is about Bambie the person, and the different roles she assumes in her everyday life. Hairdresser, entertainer, mother, wife and daughter, the fact that she's the main breadwinner, makes her the final decision maker in her remote household.
Locally known as "bakla", Filipino male-to-female transsexuals are forced to assume an exclusively female identity - no space for in-betweeners in their seemingly tolerant community - a responsibility which carries over to whatever country they happen to find themselves in. As a result, Bambie is always immaculate (never a hair out of place!) and is never seen without a full suit of armor: high heels, slinky clothes and strategically applied makeup are her daily essentials, even if she rarely leaves the house - unless it's for work.
She spends endless hours at her hairdresser's shop, which doubles as her apartment, and takes on extra work organizing weddings and pageants for the Filipinos in Athens. Her professionalism, in combination with her good looks and pleasant disposition, have made her very popular and she is rarely out of work.
Bambie's Greek residence permit has expired which renders her unable to leave the country if she ever wants to be allowed to return. Her dream is to be reunited with her partner and her 6-year-old son - your typical Filipino immigrant story - but Bambie's status as breadwinner is the only thing that buys her respect in her country of origin. If she is unable to provide her relatives with the comforts they obviously enjoy, she would have a much harder time being accepted for what she is. Money equals respect and that's the sad reality she's currently trapped in. Not that she would ever allow this "minor detail" to bring her down.