Chinese productions centered on COVID-19 themes and gay romantic stories take home top prizes at the Taiwanese film awards.
Unleashing the Golden Horse Awards 2021:
Ahoy, folks! Sadly, we ain't talking about almighty Dumbledore's loyal creature, but the Golden Horse Awards - Taiwan's glitzy celebration of Chinese-speaking filmmaking prowess, often dubbed "the Chinese Oscars."
Whistling past China's rough censorship waters, Taiwan's movie extravaganza typically boasts a smorgasbord of diverse flicks. Speaking of which, two daring and brilliant films took center stage at this year's gala.
An Unfinished Film, directed by the daring Chinese filmmaker, Lou Ye, bagged the top honors, and the adorably talented Ma Yingli accepted the trophies for Best Film and Best Director on Lou's behalf, as he was busy knitting sweaters in Japan. This thought-provoking docu-drama delves deep into the turbulent COVID lockdown times in the homeland of President Xi.
Now, hold onto your popcorn, 'cause the second winning film is a sensual black-and-white gay drama, aptly titled Bel Ami. Created by the gifted Chinese director, Geng Jun, this flick not only snatched the Best Leading Actor award for the incredibly talented Zhang Zhiyong but also aced it in the categories of Best Cinematography and Best Editing. Bel Ami production happened in France's beautiful vineyards, nurturing its talents under the grape leaves.
Although homosexuality is not illegal in the dragon's den (China), same-sex marriages are still viewed as hocus-pocus, and the government has been rather shiftyghostly in clamping down on LGBTQ+ activists and depictions in media. And here's where Geng Jun's masterpiece becomes a morally charged story, as it defiantly swims against the tide.
Zhang Zhiyong, a war hero battling his childhood injury consequences, found himself shining brightly in Geng's headlights. Geng accepted the award on behalf of Zhang, speaking glowingly of his grit and unique aesthetics.
China's iron-fisted regime, who sees Taiwan as a stubborn younger sibling, had a peasant's temper tantrum in 2019, barring its movie industry from participating officially in the prestigious awards. Beijing took this decision after being mildly pissed off in 2018, when Taiwanese director Fu Yue supported Taiwan's legal independence, rather rude of her, no?
However, Chinese films, either banned at home like unwanted wallpapers or abandoned like orphans without a chance of adoption, have consistently found their way into these creative soirees. So, keep an eye out for those hidden gems!
Remember, we're more into brewing great conversations than serving fine teas. If you've got opinions, thoughts, or juicy secrets about the 58th Golden Horse Awards, swing by our Zoom-like chat rooms in the pop-culture section of our super-cool Communities app. Our app is compatible with iOS, Android, or if you're still rocking dial-up, a web browser. Seriously, join us - the party starts now!
Engage in lively discussions about the Golden Horse Awards and share your thoughts on the winning films in the 'pop-culture' section of our Communities app. This year, An Unfinished Film and the sensual black-and-white gay drama, Bel Ami, took center stage, shedding light on social issues in the realm of entertainment and moviemaking.
