Summary
Highlights
The Dominican Republic's Boca Chica beach is a popular destination for women from Europe, America, and Canada seeking love. Here, societal barriers and traditional expectations are often disregarded, allowing for relationships that transcend age, professional status, and beauty standards. Many young Dominican men, referred to as 'sanky-panky Gigolos,' are actively looking for these women, driven by economic necessity in a country where more than half the population lives below the poverty line.
Angel, a 25-year-old French dancer, met Jean a year ago and has been returning to the Dominican Republic to see him. She brings her best friend, Crystal, who observes the relationship with more skepticism. Angel describes Jean as attentive and affectionate, offering what she lacked in her previous relationships in France, where she found men scared of commitment. She is convinced of his sincere feelings, despite Crystal's suspicions that Angel financially supports him.
Giovanna, a 33-year-old Italian lawyer, fell in love with Edison, who is 18. Their story began six months prior in Boca Chica. Edison, who grew up in poverty, now lives with Giovanna in an apartment she rents. Giovanna covers all their expenses, including meals, clothes, and travel, not seeing it as 'keeping' him but as a means to help him. Unbeknownst to her, Edison has had numerous relationships with European women, and for him and other 'sanky-panky' men, these relationships are a way out of poverty, often resembling a form of disguised prostitution.
Michael, a 27-year-old Gigolo, openly admits to living off women for several years. He patrols the beach, approaching women of all ages, using charm and compliments to secure dates. Another Gigolo, Chocolate, 20, uses dancing as his primary tactic. He boasts about having sex multiple times a week, often without condoms, despite the high incidence of AIDS in the region. These men view their interactions as a job, using sweet talk to attract women, though they acknowledge it's often based on lies and economic necessity.
Jesus, a motorbike taxi driver earning only about $25 a week, relies on women for financial support. He maintains relationships with multiple European women, including Patricia from France and an older woman from Switzerland, who send him money. He values older women for their practical approach to life. Thanks to their generosity, Jesus has been able to build his house over three years and is looking for a fourth woman to help him complete it.
Giovanna attempts to secure a visa for Edison to join her in Italy, facing significant hurdles at the Italian embassy. The authorities are aware of Dominican Gigolos marrying foreign women to leave the country. Despite a three-hour wait, Giovanna is advised to make an appointment, which could take months. She remains hopeful after seeing another woman successfully obtain a visa for her Dominican partner, but Giovanna ultimately leaves without Edison, making financial arrangements for him through a friend. Crystal expresses doubt about Angel and Jean's relationship surviving outside of the 'paradise' of Boca Chica, suggesting the dynamic will change significantly in France. Upon Giovanna's departure, Edison is quickly seen with Crystal, hinting at the ephemeral nature of these relationships once the women leave.