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By scotthgilliland on April 5, 2026 |
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Full of authenticity and surprising vulnerability, 10s Across The Borders is a tremendously moving and engaging documentary. Chan Sze-Wei’s film serves as an unconventional tribute to those who are trying to keep their communities thriving.
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If the world doesn’t accept you and your kind, trailblaze a world that does. Inspired by the Black and Latinx underground Ballroom culture of New York, Sun, Teddy, and Xyza create Ballroom communities in Southeast Asia as safe havens from homophobia, transphobia, colour discrimination and HIV stigma.
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The vérité style of filmmaking is largely effective here As we delve into the lives of Sun, Teddy, and Xyza, we get to see the trio live in their world at a distance as they share their stories and memories that have brought them to this point. We see that, although our trailblazers have formed these wonderful communities for others, they have also created a new family for themselves – one that is free from all forms of judgment, including homophobia and racism.
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We have countless emotional moments with our group that are not always presented as well as they could be. Certain scenes extend longer than necessary, which, while impactful, can disrupt the documentary’s momentum. By shortening these moments, the impact of what we are seeing and being told will resonate more with the audience and linger. Instead, we are left to sit in the moment and wait for the next scene. The power of what we are being told, though, allows us to sidestep those issues and continue this great viewing experience.
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By showing us the struggles they have encountered, 10s Across the Borders presents a world many did not know they could attain. It is a world our trio encountered as they began their journey, but as their communities have grown and evolved in Southeast Asia, that struggle is less of a concern now. An environment has been created where that struggle isn’t nearly as load-bearing as before. It’s a wonderful progress that Chan Sze Wei highlights again and again.
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However, that freeform style of filmmaking can be a struggle for some, and those who crave some structure in their documentaries will be a touch frustrated with 10s Across The Borders. This feels very much like a modern documentary; it’s alive almost throughout. We are present as we hear the stories of these communities, with a camera and direction that allow that to flow, coupled with a wonderful barrage of videos of performances, and it can feel a tad aimless. Yet, it is far from it; it is an engrossing watch that wants you to feel as if you are there watching, enjoying, even vibing with what is going on.
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Ultimately, 10s Across the Borders is not just about how the Ballroom communities reached and grew in Southeast Asia; it is a documentary that shows the triumph of inclusivity. These people are critiqued for their work, not for who they are, and even then, they are still applauded—a fantastic documentary featuring three astounding central figures. You can’t help but love this celebration of a film.
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I am but a small website in this big, wide world. As much as I would love to make this website a big and wonderful entity. That would bring in more costs. So, for now, all I hope is to make Upcoming On Screen self-sufficient. Well, enough to make any website fees less of a worry for me in the future. You can support the website below…
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You can support us in a variety of ways (other than that wonderful word of mouth) and those lovely follows. If you are so inclined to help us out then you can support us via Patreon, find our link here!. We don’t want to ask you much, so for now, we have limited our tiers to £1.50 and £3.50. These will, of course, grow the more we plan to do here at Upcoming On Screen.
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Thanks for reading; every view helps us out more than you would think (we have fragile egos). Until next time.
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