What makes a good documentary? One that transports you to a world that you may have known existed, but exposes it with such depth that you can relate to the protagonists. This is such a documentary.
A film about the Japanese sub-culture of Host Boys; males who are paid to hang out with wealthy lonely women in private clubs. In this movie, not only do you get to know a couple host boys, but you also get to go into the world of these rich lonely women who just want to be loved. At times funny, but always with an aching loneliness, I can not recommend this movie enough.
Here is the blurb on Netflix:
This compelling film explores the rarely seen world of Japanese host boys, men who are paid to entertain wealthy women in exclusive nightclubs. Almost but not quite gigolos, more akin to male geishas, the host boys of Café Rakkyo share their secrets with director Jake Clennell in his first documentary. The narrative focuses on Issei, Osaka’s top host boy, but all the characters in this unique subculture are fascinating.
