Girlfriend Boyfriend is the kind of film more common in the days of George Stevens – you take a handful of conflicted characters and set them at random intervals against some epic backdrop (like Giant or Reds). The backdrop accounts for 100% of the conflict, which is funny because the players always seem independent of their surroundings. Then you set the film up in classic play form, letting the action culminate and then jumping ahead in time and place for the next act. Films of this nature hinge on acting, so it’s a healthy two hours of, “guess what I’m thinking?”
Can’t say I’m a fan.
Mabel (Gwei Lun-Mei) is in love with two bisexuals. Aaron (Rhydian Vaughan) is a shade too frivolous; Liam (Joseph Chang) is a shade too serious; Mabel has a shade too much of a fatal stomach tumor. These three spend all of their time wondering who is going to sleep with whom; hey, don’t sweat it, sexual politics beats actual politics. The backdrops include 
Taiwan under Martial law (1985) while the kids are in school, Taiwan at the birth of protest (1992) after school and years later (1997), a Taiwan so free that it can hold a gay wedding more indulgent than the one at the beginning of Sex in the City 2.
There is sexual tension in, quite literally, every single scene of Girlfriend Boyfriend. There is sexual tension between every character, regardless of sex, demeanor, position of authority, etc. You could play a drinking game with the number of longing looks in the film. This isn’t to say the acting is bad; quite the opposite in fact. Problem is Girlfriend Boyfriend constantly felt like an actor’s workshop: “Ok, in this scene, you’re school mates on the swim team and there’s an investigation of tomfoolery in the boy’s locker room, show me sexual tension … go!” “Now in this scene, you’re at a political protest rally when somebody shows up with alcohol. Show me sexual tension … go!”
Now in this scene, the film has ended and guessing what the subtitles aren’t telling us is no longer an issue. Leave the theater … go!
So no one told you it was gonna be Taipei
You’re under Martial law; your best mate thinks you’re gay
It’s like you’re always stuck in acting class,
But for cinema from Asia, there some impressive bare ass* …
But, I’ll be there for Liu.
Oh, I’ll be there for Chu.
Yeah, I’ll be there for Hsu.
‘Cause the credits haven’t rolled.
Not rated, 104 Minutes
D: Ya-Che Yang
W: Ya-Che Yang
Genre: Filmmaker statement
Type of person most likely to enjoy this film: Those on pins and needles for Taiwanese independence.
Type of person least likely to enjoy this film: Who doesn’t enjoy sexual tension and subtitles?
*Male only
