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Hii Fonzies! We’re back with another movie review but this is more like a movie analysis as we’re gonna talk more in-depth about this movie and the meaning of each scene. So if you haven’t watched this movie, I highly urge you to watch it before reading this as this whole thing will spoil the movie. This is a tragic watch especially if you’re a part of the LGBTQ+ community. To be honest, this movie completely broke me.
Synopsis: This movie depicts the struggles of two schoolmates, Jia-Han and Birdy, coming to terms with their relationship and sexuality amid family pressure, homophobia, and social stigma after the end of martial law in Taiwan in 1987. The movie ends with the two characters meeting by chance in Canada 3 decades later in the present, where homosexuality is accepted as they try to rekindle their relationship to make up for their time lost together.
The movie is set as a friendship between Chang Jia-Han and a new student Wang Po-Te also known as Birdy. The reason behind the nickname is based on a movie about two friends, one is normal, and the other is crazy. We can see the two characters bond during swimming lessons, band class, and after when Birdy gets punished, Jia-Han comes and gives Birdy ointment for his bruises.
There’s one thing to take note of, at the beginning of the movie where all of Jia-Han’s friends were being intimate with female students from another school, Jia-Han was the other who didn’t get intimate with her as he didn’t feel anything. Many people point out that this is the part where we see that Jia-Han isn’t the same as his friends. Jia-Han even apologizes to the girl as he is also weirded out by why is he not feeling the same as his friends. Not only that but when his friends were beating up a gay kid in the bathroom, he didn’t have the heart to beat him up as he didn’t see that being gay is a valid reason to beating someone up. We can see that Jia-Han isn’t the same as his friends and as some would just brush it off as Jia-Han being considerate and mature for someone in that era, it’s actually that Jia-Han feels the same way as the gay kid feels. Adding up the fact that Jia-Han didn’t feel lust toward the female student, it’s a safe bet that Jia-Han is also gay but he’s still not aware of it. He even asks the gay kid later on, on how he knew he was gay as he wanted to see if it was the same for himself.
Jia-Han’s feelings towards Birdy grew when they went to a memorial service in Taiwan. He followed Birdy through his crazy adventures and was attracted by Birdy’s love for movies and music and also his bravery. It is in a scene where Birdy defended a protester who was fighting for equal marriage rights was where Jia-Han realised that Birdy is different from the rest. He realised that Birdy may be eccentric but he is also brave and doesn’t care about what others think and that's what made Jia-Han infatuated with him.
It’s been said that Birdy started to date a girl named Ban Ban was only to spite Jia-Han and he actually fell for Ban Ban in the end, however that is not the case. It’s obvious that Birdy also has feelings towards Jia-Han but why did he date Ban Ban and not acknowledge his feelings? Well, in one scene, Jia-Han was teaching his juniors how to march when he heard a ruckus coming from the floor above him and he heard the voices of Birdy and his friends. He rushes up to see his friends attacking Birdy by beating him up whilst screaming “Stay away from Jia-Han you queer!” It was at this moment that Birdy realised that him being with Jia-Han would destroy Jia-Han’s reputation. Birdy then proceeded to jump off of the 1st storey building signifying him jumping out of Jia-Han’s life. So the true reason why Birdy dated Ban Ban was because he did not want Jia-Han to be called a “queer” and be beaten up.
There is one scene where Birdy gets into an accident and Jia-Han helps him to wash up. They start to get intimate in the shower and that’s when Birdy kissed Jia-Han. It felt like they’ve let go of all of their pent-up sexual frustration and desire for each in that one scene and we see how much they like each other. After the kiss, Birdy breaks down and cries on Jia-Han’s shoulder while apologizing as if to say “I’m sorry I like you.” Jia-Han hugs him in return as if to say “It’s okay, I’m not mad at you.” They both start to cry as they both like each other but can’t be together.
After that incident happened, Birdy started to become distant and avoided Jia-Han. As much as Jia-Han wanted to be with Birdy, he would always be cold and leave him for Ban Ban. It’s like a promise that Birdy made to himself, he wouldn’t disturb Jia-Han anymore for the sake of his reputation.
The scene’s with the school pastor, Father Oliver is where Jia-Han openly confesses his love for Birdy. It first starts off as an innocent question “Father, what’s the craziest thing you’ve done when you were young?” It then goes south when the pastor starts to preach to Jia-Han that God listed seven sins to stay away from, mostly lust which then Jia-Han argues that he was talking about love, not lust and he wants Birdy to truly accept him in his heart. The most notable line with Jia-Han saying “Father, you’ve never loved anyone like I do, so you’ll never understand.” This is the first time in the film where Jia-Han says that he loves Birdy. He also argued with the pastor by saying this now-iconic line “So you can like girls, but I can’t like boys? Is your love bigger than the love I give? Tell me. What’s the difference between your love and my love?” with then the pastor replied to, “If he doesn’t love you back, don’t force him to. Don’t drag others into hell.” Jia-Han dejectedly said that he wants to go to hell since if all homosexuals go there, maybe there would be more people who understand him. This line said by Jia-Han is a line that many from the LGBTQ+ community can relate to as this is what goes through their mind when their love for someone is interfered with by their faith.
There’s a scene where Jia-Han and Birdy fought after Birdy got in trouble for a love proposal he did for Ban Ban. Birdy went to Jia-Han’s house to tell his parents that they fought because Jia-Han fell for Ban Ban and he was jealous of Birdy. Jia-Han was ready to tell his parents that he doesn’t like the girl but liked Birdy but before he could confess, Birdy interrupted him as he didn’t want Jia-Han to be an outcast in his own family. This is also considered a heart-breaking scene as we can see how much Jia-Han wants to set the record straight but Birdy is worried about Jia-Han’s reputation.
After their fight, the both of them then go to the beach to cool off. It is there where both of them let go of all of their worries and anxiety. It was the first time in their lives that they don’t feel the burden of the world on their shoulders and they can be with each other worry-free. We can see how much love they have for each other and how much better off they are with each other. However, these would be their last moments together as social prejudice and studies separate them. So this is where we see them enjoy their last time together.
In the most heartbreaking and iconic scene is when Jia-Han calls Birdy for the last time to profess his love through a song called “Your Name Engraved Herein”. It was especially depressing as each lyric conveys Jia-Han’s true feelings towards Birdy, the lyrics go “Your name engraved herein. I’ve decided to love, only one for the rest of my life. I hope that time would stop, so I can have more time to miss you. If I have another chance, I will surely love again”. Its title in one of its lyrics as it spoke how Birdy’s name will forever be engraved in Jia-Han’s heart. Most people would point out this small detail on how desperately Jia-Han searched and inserted the coins into the telephone as he yearned to hear Birdy’s voice for the last time. The scene ends with the both of them breaking down with emotions of love and regret as the audience could hear the pain in their cries as they both have finally confessed their feelings for each other but by then, it was too late and they’ve already parted ways. The part where Jia-Han screams out Birdy’s name with all of his heart has also broken the hearts of many people as it was at that moment Jia-Han desperately wants to be with Birdy but he can’t.
We’re fast forward to 30 years into the present in 2017 when Jia-Han attends a reunion party of his school. It is here where we see he still hasn’t forgotten about Birdy and even attempts to call him only to reach Ban Ban who is now Birdy’s ex-wife. She explained to Jia-Han that if she had known that Birdy liking boys were an innate thing, she wouldn’t have tried so hard as the marriage had ruined her life and his. This is something that many people need to realise is that people don’t choose to be gay, it’s something that is a part of them. Sure change can happen but it isn’t something that can change easily.
Jia-Han then goes to Canada to visit his late pastor who was passed away only to find out that his pastor has a male lover. His lover explained how much Father Oliver adored his students and loved doing what he did but admitted that their love also had some obstacles. Even though many people would view the pastor as a hypocrite but there’s another layer to it. The reason why Father Oliver was so adamant on Jia-Han to not pursue his love towards Birdy was not only because it was God’s command but he didn’t want Jia-Han to go through the same experiences as him, the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community in that era.
We can see in a scene where Jia-Han goes to a pub only to find a gay couple kissing in the background. We can see in 30 years, society has progressed and has changed its views on homosexuality. Jia-Han and Birdy reunite near the pub and talk about the changes in society, not believing how open society is now compared to 30 years ago. It’s a wholesome scene as we can see the both of them finally be happy with each other. The both of them say goodnight as “wanan” which is an anagram from “I love you” over and over to say that they’ve both finally confessed their love for each other. The movie ends with the camera panning to a younger version of Jia-Han and Birdy having a fun time playing with a ball and playing the guitar while singing the song “Your Name Engraved Herein.” The ending is interpreted as a what-if they were accepted in the past. The first time that song was played, it was a depressing moment as they couldn’t be together but now it’s played in a fun, bright tone to say they’re together happily.
The movie as a whole will have you feeling all sorts of emotions leaving you with a pain in your chest and a bittersweet feeling as the both of them did get their happy ending but it was only after 30 years apart. This will make you wonder, “What if the present was their world a few decades ago? Would they have been together until the end without being hurt?” It’s a beautifully crafted movie that has many subtle nuances between the two characters with small touches and glances.
The cinematography by Yao Hung-I perfectly captures each scene and the complexity of Jia-Han’s experience. Each scene is beautifully shot and not only that but it’s paired up with light instrumental music that makes the film feel nostalgic that also matches the ambiance of each scene.
The director, Patrick Liu Kuang-Hui also paid homage to a famous real-life Taiwanese gay activist, Chi Chia-Wei, in a scene where the character is arrested by police during his protest for LGBTQ equality. Moreover, this is also a semi-autobiography based on the director’s experience.
It’s an emotional rollercoaster for sure but this movie portrays the real-life situations that people from the LGBTQ+ community face, having to love whom you want, and the loss of time with each other. It makes many from the community feel at home as they too have felt the shame, confusion, pain, and regret of Jia-Han and Birdy and makes them wish that they could turn back time, just so that they don’t lose their precious time together. All in all, this movie sheds light on some of the common issues LGBQ+ people face daily and it has become a comfort movie for those going through the same thing.
The fact that this movie is the highest-grossing LGBTQ+ film clearly shows how far society has come in minimizing the stigma surrounding homosexuality. Regardless of race, gender, or religious background we must treat everyone equally and with respect. It is simply not right to have prejudice towards a certain group of people only because their beliefs don’t match with yours.
This is just the responses of some who’ve watched this movie:-
“Overall an amazing portrayal of the LGBT community in a repressed society where homosexuality is deemed unacceptable. This movie was flawless from the cinematography, characters portrayal, acting and storyline. The emotions were so raw that at times you might even find yourself relate to the characters in the movie. It shows the complexity of youths trying to find out their true identity all while protecting the person they love the most. Overall an amazing watch as it gave me a rollercoaster of emotions and the feelings stay lingering even after the movie has ended long ago, this shows how impactful the message they try to deliver” – Yong Shun Jun
“The movie portrays their journey of overcoming the continuous suppression of homophobia accurately and beautifully while being able to capture the period and landscape of the particular era.” – Manreet Singh
Did I write a whole movie? Yes, I did that cuz I'm a material growl ehe. I hope you guys enjoyed this movie review and analysis <3
Written by,
Khira
The Fonz Content Creation Team