We may live in an enlightened age, but there are still certain subjects that the film industry shy away from - particularly if they're deemed controversial or not commercial enough. Movies about gay relationships are often consigned to the 'too risky' basket by investors, and actors tend to think twice about playing gay characters - even if they don't have a problem with homosexuality in real life.
So, writer and director Mak Yan-yan knew she faced an uphill task putting together the feature-length drama Butterfly, which is now shooting in Hong Kong. Based on a short story by Taiwanese author Chen Xue, it revolves around a love affair between a married woman and a teenage girl. Although the project got a grant from the Hong Kong Arts Development Council at script stage, it took a further two years before the film was able to start production.
'Actually, I didn't set out to make a film about this subject,' says Mak, who also made the award-winning independent feature Brother (Gege). 'I just wanted to write something about a 30-year-old woman, because I've reached that age myself. Then I read some of Chen Xue's work and was attracted to this story.'
After contacting Chen and visiting her in Taipei, Mak set about adapting the story for the big screen, working with the novelist to transplant it from Taiwan to Hong Kong, and modifying some of the plotlines. However, the basic plot stays true to Chen's original work.
It tells the story of a schoolteacher, Butterfly, who is married with a small daughter and thinks she's perfectly content - until she runs into rebellious teenager Yip at a supermarket. Butterfly steps in to help Yip when she's caught shoplifting, and ends up falling in love with her. Eventually, Butterfly tells her husband about the affair and has to make a difficult choice between her lover and her family.
Although lesbian love affairs are probably not up there on the controversy scale with religious issues these days, Mak knew she had to tread carefully. The first hurdle was to find an actress willing to play Butterfly - ideally a recognisable name without which it would be difficult to raise finance. 'The casting was quite difficult because Hong Kong actors are not as open as in the US or Europe,' she says. 'Although I'm not doing any nude scenes or strong stuff, I still had to work hard to get the actors to trust me.'
Mak secured Josie Ho Chiu-yee, who she felt was perfect for the part and who was also supportive of independent filmmakers. Ho recently appeared in indie feature And Also the Eclipse. Mainland rock singer Tian Yuan was cast as Butterfly's lover, and Eric Kot Man-fai as her husband.