Loading ...The film was co-written by Cui Zi’en, one of the few openly gay writers in China. Cui also has a cameo-role in the film, as the host of an underground radio show.
Banned in China due to its homosexual themes, It is one of China’s few films touching on LGBT-films, Men and Women was cast with openly gay actors.
Men and Women starts when main character, Xiao Bo, arrives in Beijing looking for a job. He goes inside a clothing boutique to look for his contact, a certain Mr. Li, who did not appear. The boutique’s owner, Qing Jie, took pity on the young man and gave him a job and a place to stay in her apartment. While feeling very maternal towards Xiao Bo, it appears that Qing Jie has an unhappy marriage with her husband Kang.
One day, Qing Jie decides to set up Xiao Bo with her best friend Ah Meng. However, Ah Meng suspects that Xiao Bo is gay, an observation she shares to Qing, who in turn relays the information to her husband. After the incident, Xiao Bo decides to leave the apartment and his job.
He sought shelter at the apartment of a new friend, Chong Chong, the editor of “Lavatory Literature”, an underground magazine that features graffiti from public toilets that are known to be cruising places of the gay community. Chong Chong lives with his lover, Gui Gui, who produces “Lavatory Time” the audio counterpart of Chong Chong’s magazine. Xiao Bo’s presence causes a rift between the lovers, and eventually makes Gui Gui move out. He delivers the final edition of “Lavatory Time” to Chong Chong’s answering machine.
Meanwhile, Qing Jie confesses to her husband that she is having an affair with her best friend Ah Meng. She decides to leave him.
With its topic of sexual awakenings and frank assessment of gender issues, Men and Women is understandably banned in China. This is such a shame as there are probably a lot of gays and lesbians in China whose lives resonate with the film’s characters.
Despite its open portrayal of homosexuality, the film does not veer towards pornographic portrayal of sex. Nudity is fleetingly shown during a shower scene and the sex scene is covered up. What the film focuses on is the humdrum and routine of everyday life.
Much of the narrative is improvisational, perhaps in its attempt to have a documentary approach. However, this treatment causes some of the scenes in the movie to feel disjointed. Also, the low budget and lack of sophisticated equipment is evident all throughout the movie.
Technical issues aside, the film is still a joy to watch, as it does not muddle up with the film’s message. The movie’s low points are saved by earnest performances from its actors. The casting of non-professional and openly gay actors works in the film’s favor. Only the actor portraying Qing Jie has had some experience with her appearances in films made for television.
Director Liu Bingjian originally intended the film to have a title that is more in tune with the film’s story. He chose the safe title of Men and Women in the hopes that this film will be released in China one day. Men and Women was shown at the 1999
