Synopsis

Liu Bingjian's latest film uses an age-old story (country boy comes to the big city to find himself) to get a handle on the burgeoning underground gay and lesbian scene in Beijing. Xiao Bo shows up in Qing's clothes shop, looking for someone else, and lands himself a job and a place to stay. Only after setting him up with a date does Qing begin to suspect that Xiao Bo is gay. She mentions this to her husband, who soon gets to thinking that he wouldn't mind trying to hit on the house guest.

Men and Women clearly announces that independent cinema in China is alive and well. Director Liu's sharply observed glimpse of street-level realism blends with mildly utopian scenes imaging what gay activism with Chinese characteristics might be like.

Crew

Director: Liu Bingjian;
Format and Length: 35mm, 92 minutes.