"Tell me a story."
It's hard being queer and Asian: homophobia from unexpected places, an overall push for heteronormativity no matter where you look, and the struggle to articulate your queerness in the tongues you're fluent in. In many Asian languages, the words "gay" and "queer" do not exist; we have to rely on English loanwords to articulate our queerness, which only makes it more difficult for our Asian communities to understand us.
Somehow, Huang's fantastic urban fantasy shows some…
"My aunt's house is over the railtracks."
Kim Young-ho's life story is a more comprehensive history of what has happened in recent Korean history than any popular textbook will ever tell you. From the financial crisis of the 90s that put hundreds of workers out of jobs to the Gwangju Massacre, this is a story of a nation that has experienced volatile upheavals time and time again, all thanks to inept and corrupt leadership that uses military and police to…
"What would I do without you, seriously?"
A cotton-candy spun fairytale of two sapphics falling deeply in love with each other. Sweet, wholesome, and swimming in spring pinks and golden evening lights. This is the feeling of first love captured on film.
"If you see some strange things, tell me."
In wordless actions and in silent surreal ambience, homoeroticism will be accepted. But a word that breaks that silence ("What are you looking at?") or a move that is seen as too intimate (a swooping for a kiss) breaks that acceptance, for it is in these material actions that queerness suddenly becomes real. Such a slippery predicament would make anyone overwhelmed. No wonder David never speaks. One's queerness brought into the glaring…
"I'm a gross red monster!"
If you're going to have a symbol, make sure you know what it's going to mean first. According to this story, the red panda was passed down through generations of Asian women as a protective family blessing, but now it's a familial inconvenience for all the present-day Asian women living in North America (which made me roll my eyes because assimilation/erasure over embracement of heritage/culture vibes were strong here). However, the film's treatment of Mei-Lin's…
