Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Documentary

Paradise Bent: Boys Will Be Girls in Samoa (1999): Cast

Paradise Bent: Boys Will Be Girls in Samoa (1999) movie poster

Paradise Bent: Boys Will Be Girls in Samoa is a 1999 documentary directed by Heather Croall, starring Tom Pollard, Derek Freeman and Jeanette Mageo. It runs 51 minutes.

Loading streaming availability…
Paradise Bent: Boys Will Be Girls in Samoa (1999) movie poster
Released
Runtime
51 min
Director
Heather Croall
Genre
Documentary
Original language
English
Studio
SBS
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Paradise Bent: Boys Will Be Girls in Samoa About?

The premise of Paradise Bent: Boys Will Be Girls in Samoa without spoilers.

The documentary explores the Samoan fa'afafine—biological males raised as women who occupy a traditional cultural niche. Historically they performed women’s work, yet today many adopt Western fashions and appear similar to drag queens. Anthropologists weigh in, discussing the cultural, gender and sexual‑identity complexities that the fa'afafine embody.

Paradise Bent: Boys Will Be Girls in Samoa Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • pacific island
  • crossdressing
  • masculinity
  • gender roles
  • boy raised as girl
  • samoa
  • social life
  • social customs
  • paradise
  • bent
  • natural history
  • gender identity disorder
+38 more
  • polynesia
  • ethnology
  • gender identity
  • identity
  • homosexuality
  • westernization
  • socialization
  • social psychology
  • sociology
  • anthropology
  • culture
  • dance
  • dancer
  • nightclub
  • entertainer
  • boy
  • girl
  • child development
  • cleaning
  • cooking
  • dancing
  • western samoa
  • academic
  • anthropologist
  • interview
  • western civilization
  • islander
  • islands
  • crossdresser
  • native
  • elder
  • femininity
  • gay
  • tradition
  • gender role
  • transgender woman
  • transgender
  • fa'afafine
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

Paradise Bent: Boys Will Be Girls in Samoa Cast

Tom Pollard leads the cast, with Derek Freeman and Jeanette Mageo. Directed by Heather Croall; 4 actors are credited in all.

Seen Paradise Bent: Boys Will Be Girls in Samoa?

FAQ

Paradise Bent: Boys Will Be Girls in Samoa FAQ: Cast & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Paradise Bent: Boys Will Be Girls in Samoa, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Paradise Bent: Boys Will Be Girls in Samoa?

Paradise Bent: Boys Will Be Girls in Samoa runs 51 minutes.

When was Paradise Bent: Boys Will Be Girls in Samoa released?

Paradise Bent: Boys Will Be Girls in Samoa was released on August 6, 1999.

Who directed Paradise Bent: Boys Will Be Girls in Samoa?

Paradise Bent: Boys Will Be Girls in Samoa was directed by Heather Croall.

Who is in the cast of Paradise Bent: Boys Will Be Girls in Samoa?

Paradise Bent: Boys Will Be Girls in Samoa stars Tom Pollard, Derek Freeman and Jeanette Mageo, among 4 credited actors.

Does Paradise Bent: Boys Will Be Girls in Samoa have a post-credit scene?

No. Paradise Bent: Boys Will Be Girls in Samoa has no extra scene during or after the credits.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app