Article by Giada Franzoni
Translation by Carlotta Anna Antonacci
What would happen if Fellini’s naïve Cabiria suddenly ended up in John Waters’ irreverent film universe? Fucktoys, the debut feature directed by and starring Annapurna Sriram, answers this question by creating a glamourous and glittering atmosphere which recalls the 1970s and camp aesthetics, while competing in the 43rd edition of the Torino Film Festival.
AP (Annapurna Sriram) lives in Trashtown, a city-reflection of a decadent and repressive America. She is a sex worker who exploits and allows herself to be exploited by the bourgeoisie that benefits the most from the very world of outcasts it pretends to want to eradicate. The story begins with the girl, who, after consulting a fortune teller, discovers she must pay a thousand dollars to free herself from a curse that haunts her. This event will test AP’s ability to earn a living. The protagonist, blessed with a contagious light-heartedness and liveliness which make her stand out from the gloomy urban decay, is surrounded by ambiguous and bizarre characters: absolute postmodern freaks yet incredibly genuine. In particular, Danni’s return (Sadie Scott), AP’s old flame, becomes a fundamental turning point in the story.
Fucktoys offers the audience a blunt queer comedy shot in 16mm: a feminine journey full of encounters and grotesque yet surreal characters. However, although it proves convincing in its narrative framework, it ultimately turns out to be fragile from a directorial point of view, and the radically feminist freedom that emerges from its intentions is weakened precisely by the choice of images used to portray it.
Article published on “la Repubblica Torino” online in November 2025.