East Palace, West Palace
东宫西宫 | Dōnggōng Xīgōng
1996
Synopsis
After a random night raid in a local park, a young, gay writer, Ah Lan, is held for an intensive one-on-one interrogation. Unwanted memories offer glimpses of his tumultuous past. Through the night, an interrogating officer is both revolted and fascinated by Ah Lan. An awkward love story unfolds.
Editorial
One of the first films from mainland China to explicitly portray queer life, Zhang Yuan’s pioneering marvel bristles with the heady push and pull between lust and repression. As the setting shifts from a cruising hotspot to an integration room, what begins as a confession soon ignites a carnal fire.
