Queer
Asian Cinema
- I -

 

 

 

I Like You Very Much 
Release year: 1994
Country:  Japan

A gay Japanese couple examines their monogamous relationship after one of them initiates a liasion with a young hunk in a train station. Representative of Japan's "pink films," art-house, gay-themed fare with explicit sexuality and high production values. 

 

I'm Not What You Want 
Release year: 2002
Country:  Hong Kong

This narrative video film critically examines several generally accepted social values in the heterosexually dominated world, especially in Hong Kong. Kit Hung wants to show how commonplace homosexuality can be and how people are unconsciously influenced by their surroundings. The video makes no distinction between 'straight' and 'gay' love, only different kinds of love between people. The video is full of songs, positive images and love, and that's what homosexuality is about, according to the maker.

 

 

I'm Your Birthday Cake 
Release year: 1995
Country:  Hong Kong

The story is about Mountain Lam(Kong Wa) who's impotent and his brother's (Ekin Cheng as 'Water Lam') quest to make him happy again. A girl, Cher (Chingmy Yau), down on her luck and just out of a bad relationship, agrees to be Mountain's "date" for one night in exchange for $30 million HK. To overcome Mountain Lam's phycological handicap, Cher poses as his birthday present. Also stars Amanda Lee Wai-Man as Sorry and Michael Wong as a gay guy Honey, who provides the ncessary training in order for Cher to be a most seductive "man-trap." Chingmy looks incredible during the dance parts of the movie. A pretty funny film.

 


 

 

Iron Ladies
Release year:  1999 
Country:  Thailand

"Iron" is a straightforward underdogs-against-the-world affair. Fed up with constantly being rejected for volleyball teams because they are gay, Mon and Jung talk themselves onto the Lampang men's volleyball squad. The rest of the team walk out in protest, so the tough-talking coach allows the duo to recruit transvestites and a transsexual to make up the team. Although the story is little more than a peg for the jokes that make up the bulk of the script, "Iron" addresses themes of winning over prejudice and being true to yourself. The team never disguises its cross-dressing sexuality on the court, playing in full makeup.  Not only does the team win the competition on its own terms, the players strike a blow for gay pride by gaining public support in the process.  The characterization veers toward the stereotypical, but this doesn't hurt what's essentially a gay farce.

We hope you have found the Long Yang - Denver's
Queer Asian Cinema
informative.  If you know of a film with a gay Asian character that is still available to rent or buy, please drop us an e-mail and tell us about it so we can add it to our list!