Asian Queer Shorts (2009)

Sexy and even unintentionally profound, Asian Queer Shorts is a collection of five less-than-20 minutes short films. These vignettes, made by five different directors and set in five different countries, show a very Asian view of homosexuality. The films in Asian Queer Shorts are produced in United Kingdom, United States, the Philippines, South Korea, and Indonesia, and this fact lends authenticity and flavor to this exciting collection of short films. Asian directors turn up the heat with this steamy sets of shorts: “Still” (2005), “Last Full Show” (2005), “Dissolution of Bodies” (2007), “Crimson Mark” (2004), and “Yellow Fever” (1998).

“Still,” directed by Lucky Kuswandi and produced in Indonesia and the United States is about a detached teenager who is looking for his purpose in the world. He is seeking for love—or a substitute for it—since he was unable to get this from his father. He runs away and goes into a journey towards finding himself, only to find a number of clichés and illusions that will further fuel his disillusionment. This artsy film is not the typical gay film. In fact, it can stand without the gay film classification.

“Last Full Show,” from Mark Reyes of the Philippines is set an old cinema house, a favorite local cruising place.  There, two gay men—an older, less affluent gay man and a young, rich teenager—meet and form a bond despite the seedy surroundings. Their brief fling turns into what could be a relationship, but will their relationship last longer than the usual one-night stand? This slice-of-life short is genuine and sincere. While it shows several tropes that are obviously very local to the Philippines, “Last Full Show” will still be familiar to the audience.

Kevin Choi’s “Dissolution of Bodies” is also about the brief and seemingly fleeting nature of the gay relationship. Here, instead of having two random individuals who met in a seedy cinema, the protagonists are intellectuals who connect both physically and intellectually. But the same question remains: despite their intellectual connection, can the two men maintain their relationship and prove that the gay relationship can also be solid and stable?

An unusual entry to this collection is “A Crimson Mark,” set in South Korea’s Chosun Dynasty. During a political upheaval, a powerful chancellor develops love for a court clerk. This happens while the country decides on its fate. “A Crimson Mark” is a gay love story with a historical backdrop and a very Korean character that defies the label of “gay film.”

The last short film is “Yellow Fever,” produced in United Kingdom and directed by Raymond Yeung. This sort film is a humorous take on the life of a Chinese gay man. Monty is an awkward and shy man who is waiting for his “white knight,” something that is borne from the European-dominated society in China. When he meets his new neighbor, however, his idea of a “white knight” is turned around its head. This prompts Monty to take a campy and funny journey into his own inferiority and insecurities.

Asian Queer Shorts contains funny, riveting, and poignant explorations into the persona of the Asian homosexual male. Although produced in different countries by different directors, Asian Queer Shorts is about the gay men of Asia.