The Story of the Dolls (1984) | Region-Free (DVD) | English Subtitles

**DISC ONLY**

Source:  Remastered VHS w/ English Subtitles (Upgraded Print).

Title: The Story of the Dolls (1984)

Genre: Drama, Romance

Plot Synopsis:
A fashion photographer arrives on a remote tropical island for a glamour shoot. He persuades a local woman, Lee, to become his model, and they develop a romantic relationship. As their bond deepens, he plans to take her back to the United States. However, tribal customs and traditions present unforeseen challenges to their aspirations.

Cast and Crew:

• Director: Hubert Frank
• Writer: Hubert Frank
• Cast:
  • Tetchie Agbayani as Lee
  • Max Thayer as Tom Hunter
  • Brigitta Cimarolli
  • Leo Hermosa
  • Mario Layco as Pedro

IMDb Link:
The Story of the Dolls (1984) 

Reviews from Letterboxd:

1. Boxhamster – ★★★
   “Viewed at the Metro Kinokulturhaus in Vienna on 02.03.2025 during ‘Wild Weekend meets Hofbauer-Kongress.’ After a typhoon hits a Philippine island, an American photographer is washed ashore and rescued by a young woman. He persuades her to travel with him to Manila to work as a model, but she soon questions whether the glamorous life is for her and if the man truly loves her. The film, with its exotic setting, brewing typhoon, young islander venturing from a devout village to the liberal big city, and the opportunistic photographer offering her a rapid career rise—where tradition and modernity collide—has many good approaches.”

2. dirtylaundri – ★★★★½
   “The expected highlight, fueled by enthusiastic performances, Frank’s signature sense of delirious fever-dream glamour, adventurous storytelling that leaves room for both crass exploitation and de facto modernist reflexive gestures, and maybe above all, magnificent Franz X. Lederle cinematography.”

3. James_Euclid – ★★★★
   “Sun, beaches, palm trees, and ducks: It begins in paradise, invaded by civilization in the form of a photographer with his semi-nude models. The prelude is a Heimatfilm with wanderlust and an interest in free love. The main character is a young woman who curiously sets off into the modern world and finds only forms of possessive men here as there. The sexy exoticism follows its curious character in a relaxed manner, and yet at its heart, it is a horror film of inescapability—in which it is impossible to guess for a long time how modern it will react.”

Meta Description:
A tropical drama-romance, The Story of the Dolls (1984) follows a fashion photographer who falls in love with a local woman during a glamour shoot. As they dream of a future together, cultural traditions and tribal laws stand in their way. Directed by Hubert Frank, this film explores love, identity, and the clash between tradition and modernity.