Hong Kong cinema has many films that revolve around LGBTQ+ characters and their lives. Here are some of the best that you should check out …

Happy Together (1997)

The film won, and was nominated for, several awards. Its wins include best director at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival, best cinematography at the 34th Golden Horse Awards (to Christopher Doyle) and best actor at the 17th Hong Kong Film Awards (to Tony Leung).

Suk Suk (2019)

Meaning “uncle” in Cantonese – a familiar way to address an older male acquaintance – Suk Suk is about the lives of Pak and Hoi, who meet each other by chance. Through sharing their personal histories, the two men realise they have more in common than they thought, releasing their true feelings after being repressed for so long by society and their roles as father figures.

Aside from providing representation for elderly LGBTQ+ couples, Suk Suk is also critically acclaimed and won several awards, including multiple best actor awards for leading man Tai Bo.

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A Woman is a Woman (2018)

Created by trans filmmaker Mimi Wong, A Woman is a Woman follows the lives of two trans women, a housewife and a teenager. They face personal difficulties and crave to be integrated in society – something they have in common despite their age difference and different stages of life. The film highlights the struggles and prejudices they face – even from those closest to them – as they try to become more visible as trans women in Hong Kong society.

Wong has also helmed other projects about the transgender community, like Hong Kong Transgender Stories.

All About Love (2010)

After its initial release, Hui said in an interview with MovieWeb that there were not that many investors in the film due to same-sex relationships being a taboo topic in China, along with Hong Kong’s film market heavily relying on the Chinese market.

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Butterfly (2004)

Based on the Taiwanese novel The Mark of Butterfly, Butterfly follows Flavia, who is a closeted married high school teacher who falls in love with Yip, a singer-songwriter. Flavia’s repressed attraction towards the other woman comes to light, despite her being brought up in a homophobic society.

Butterfly has been recognised as one of Hong Kong’s first firms exploring a same-sex relationship in a serious manner.

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Tracey (2018)

Tracey explores the life of Travis, a 51-year-old married father of two played by Philip Keung. After receiving news of a friend’s death, reconnecting with his friend’s husband, and multiple other things in his life going awry, Travis realises that he wishes to transition – becoming Tracey. Despite backlash from her family, she perseveres and follows what she feels is right in her heart.

Keung said in an interview with Topick that he felt empowered by playing the role of Tracey after remembering one of his childhood classmates who was bullied at a young age, who he coincidentally met as a confident transgender woman many years later.