Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on April 2011

Highly personal, confessional documentaries focusing on sexuality, insecurity and creativity were in vogue in the ’70s and ’80s. The touchstone for Japanese works in the genre is Kazuo Hara’s powerful Extreme Private Eros: Love Song (1974). Pyuupiru uses the same emphasis on sexual identity as a jumping off point for its exploration of the titular artist. Shot over a period of seven years, the documentary depicts an effeminate young man who gains confidence in his art while also undergoing a sexual transformation. Accompanied by the artist’s commentary and examples of his aesthetic vision, this all seems quite natural. Pyuupiro quite literally becomes the artwork, specializing in colorful, otherworldly, often bulbous costumes that he wears in his installations. This intimate portrait by documentarian Daishi Matsunaga captures both the personality and inspiration of a compelling young artist. And Pyuupiru answers the question all “normals” have about trans-gendered people: Why? The artist responds by explaining that he aims for an idealized body that is neither masculine nor feminine. A must-see for anyone interested in art and/or sexual identity. (95 min)