Gay shows worth watching

[Lu]

Taigunjeung wrote:

Allow me to preface things by admitting why I'm watching "Addicted". After all, I'm not the target audience, and I honestly wouldn't be interested if this didn't happen to get banned on the mainland. I'm not interested in gay culture, but even if it's something that has nothing to offer me, at least I an offer it something: my attention.

 

I haven't always been kind to the gay community, and when I was younger I've issued callous slurs that I've become ashamed of now that I'm older, and know better. But even if I currently support gay rights and culture, they just aren't a part of my life. So if I watch a gay Chinese drama, maybe I could walk away having a little more appreciation and respect for gays. 

 

Through culture, we can bridge the gaps that divide us, provide other perspectives that elude us, experience the breadth of humanity that challenges us all. And yet, "Addicted" is not that show.

 

So I thought I'd start a thread with Chinese gay tv shows/movies/books/whatever that are worth one's attention. I'll start:

 

Chinese:

- Happy Together (movie). I keep meaning to watch this one and haven't so far, but it has Tony Leung and Leslie Cheung as a gay couple, directed by Wong Kar-wai, so need I say more?

- Farewell My Concubine. I read the book a long time ago and liked it, still haven't seen the movie. Should be worthwhile though.

- East Palace West Palace, movie by Zhang Yuan which I also haven't yet seen.

- Spring Fever, movie by Lou Ye which I think I have seen and enjoyed. Rather arthouse.

 

Taiwanese:

- 孽子, both series and book. The series is about more than just things gay: it's also about fathers & sons, broken families, brotherhood and friendship, Taiwan and the mainlanders stranded there, and some more things, but it's certainly also gay. Boy discovers his sexual orientation, gets kicked out of the house, finds his way in the gay community, drama ensues. It's great, I loved it. Includes a dramatic story about two star-crossed lovers, who have a relationship that is problematic but actually treated as such. You can also read the original book by Bai Xianyong, but be warned because his writing is not easy (or wasn't for me when I tried it, I liked the translation though).

 

Chinese-American:

- Ethan Mao (movie). To be honest I forgot most of the story, but basically, Chinese-American boy comes out as gay, family drama ensues. To continue to be honest this was not the best movie there is, but I still thought it worth watching and it wasn't nearly as stupid as Addiction sounds.

- Saving Face (movie). Chinese-American mother finds herself pregnant at an age beyond where anyone would have expected that, refuses to name the father and ends up moving in with her grown lesbian daughter who in turn has a love interest of her own with the necessary romcom issues. I enjoyed this one.

- The Wedding Banquet, movie by Ang Lee. Chinese guy in US is happy with his boyfriend but his parents in China find him a wife. Wedding ensues. Funny in places, also silly in places, but overall nice.

 

Anyone else have recommendations? Some more lesbian movies/series/books perhaps?

[maggieh]

 

I also really enjoyed 'addicted' - the actors were great and production values were great.   It had a really professional feel to it.  Its the first gay drama i've watched & now I've 'BL' recommendations popping up on youtube all the time - LOL!

[Lu]

MCLC posted a list of five good LGBT-themed Taiwanese movies, with trailers: The Wedding Banquet, The River, Blue Gate Crossing, Eternal Summer and Thanatos, Drunk. It lists Blue Gate Crossing as one of the best Taiwanese movies overall, gay-themed or otherwise, so that one should be especially worthwhile.

[Geiko]

At my local cinema this June they are proposing a series of films about LGBT, and although there are no Asian films programmed, there is this Dutch documentary, Inside the Chinese Closet, which looks interesting. 

[Lu]

I've seen that one, but I found it a bit disappointing (and a Chinese gay friend who also watched it agreed with me). There is one scene where the documentary makers visit a psychologist who explains he can 'cure' gay people, which would be interesting if there was any follow-up at all, but it's just that scene. The film follows mainly two gay people (a lesbian woman and a gay man), but it doesn't delve very deep. One problem is that the filmmaker doesn't speak any Chinese, so she couldn't really direct the scenes very well. Not a bad movie, but the subject matter is a lot more interesting than the documentary.

 

Still, thanks for the addition to the list! I'll be interested to know what you think of it (if you go see it).

[maggieh]

Have you got 明天記得愛上我  Will you Still Love Me Tomorrow?   On the list?     Quite a gentle, sweet film.