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IMDbPro

Leitis in Waiting

  • 20182018
  • 1h 12m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
39
YOUR RATING
Leitis in Waiting (2018)
Documentary
The story of Joey Mataele and the Tonga Leitis, an intrepid group of transgender women fighting a rising tide of religious fundamentalism and intolerance in the South Pacific Kingdom.The story of Joey Mataele and the Tonga Leitis, an intrepid group of transgender women fighting a rising tide of religious fundamentalism and intolerance in the South Pacific Kingdom.The story of Joey Mataele and the Tonga Leitis, an intrepid group of transgender women fighting a rising tide of religious fundamentalism and intolerance in the South Pacific Kingdom.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
39
YOUR RATING
    • Dean Hamer
    • Joe Wilson
    • Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu
  • Stars
    • Joey Joleen Mataele
    • Eva Baron
    • Hon. Frederica Tuita Filipe
    • Dean Hamer
    • Joe Wilson
    • Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu
  • Stars
    • Joey Joleen Mataele
    • Eva Baron
    • Hon. Frederica Tuita Filipe
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 2User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Photos6

    Leitis in Waiting (2018)
    Leitis in Waiting (2018)
    Leitis in Waiting (2018)
    Leitis in Waiting (2018)
    Leitis in Waiting (2018)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Joey Joleen Mataele
    • Self
    Eva Baron
    • Self
    Hon. Frederica Tuita Filipe
    • Self
    • (as Princess Frederica Tuita-Filipe)
    Princess Salote Lupepau'u Tuita-Taione
    • Self
    Leafa Wawryk
    • Self
    • (as Leafa Mataele Wawryk)
    Melielau Manu
    • Self - Radio Announcer
    • (uncredited)
    Princess Salote Mafile'o Pilolevu Tuita
    • Self
    • (uncredited)
    King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    King Tupou VI
    • Self
    • (uncredited)
      • Dean Hamer
      • Joe Wilson
      • Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    User reviews2

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    An interesting documentary from the South Pacific
    When Joey Mataele was a small boy, the Queen of the Polynesian kingdom of Tonga thought him so pretty she removed the dress from her life-size doll and put it instead on Joey. Joey contined wearing dresses, including - to the consternation of his parliamentarian father - in public, and today is one of Tonga's leading transgender women, known locally as 'leitis'. This documentary film is called 'Leitis in Waiting' (see what they did there?)

    The film opens with scenes of traditional Tongan dancing - grass skirts, graceful bowing and hand-twirling - intercut with a leiti giving a bawdy performance of a more modern song. Despite this jarring juxtaposition, the viewer learns that leitis are actually an established part of Tongan culture, for example serving the monarchy and working at social gatherings. But this acceptance is under threat from outside influences, particularly religion (surprise!) Athough we do meet at least one religious leader who speaks out in support of the leitis, most of those featured are very much in the anti camp - none more so than (the rather handsome) Pastor Barry, a televangelist whose church, the film informs us more than once, is 'USA-funded'.

    I was attracted to this documentary for its look at modern South Pacific society more than I was interested in the transgender issues. But the viewer would have to possess a heart of stone not to feel sympathy for Joey and her fellow leitis as they attempt to claim their place in a modernising country (albeit with powerful support: the patron of the Tonga Leiti's - sic - Association is a princess of the royal family). With this kind of campaigning documentary there is always the question how fair is the portrayal of the opposing side (for instance, was the best thing Pastor Barry could say about homosexuals really that they should be put in prison for a month and he didn't want them killed "as in Iran"?) But Mataele makes for an articulate and engaging spokesperson (in fact, not featuring more of her trip to Geneva to address the United Nations was a wasted opoortunity) and this is an interesting film.
    helpful•3
    0
    • euroGary
    • Mar 29, 2019

    Details

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    • Release date
      • May 23, 2018 (United States)
      • Tonga
      • United States
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
      • English
      • Tonga (Tonga Islands)
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Tonga
    • Production company
      • Waves
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 12 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby SR

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