Girlfriend, Boyfriend
Girlfriend, Boyfriend (also stylized as Gf*Bf) is a 2012 Taiwanese drama film written and directed by Yang Ya-che. The film was released on August 3, 2012.
Girlfriend, Boyfriend | |
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Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Yang Ya-che |
Produced by | Yeh Ju-feng Liu Weijan |
Written by | Yang Ya-che |
Starring | Gwei Lun-mei Joseph Chang Rhydian Vaughan |
Music by | Chung Hsing-min |
Cinematography | Jake Pollock |
Edited by | Chen Chung-hung |
Production company | Atom Cinema Ocean Deep Films Central Motion Pictures |
Distributed by | Atom Cinema |
Release date |
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Running time | 105 minutes |
Country | Taiwan |
Language | Mandarin Taiwanese |
Box office | US$64,414 (U.S)[1] |
Of the film, director Yang stated that while he did not intentionally set out to make a "gay movie, but a political one, one which happened to include a gay character".[2], he further stated that homosexuality and politics "both in fact represent the theme of freedom".[2]
Synopsis
In the 1980s, high school students Aaron, Mabel and Liam are best friends and also caught in a love triangle. As the three friends go through the turbulent times, when social revolution takes hold over martial law, their relationships go through many ups and downs.
Cast
- Gwei Lun-mei as Mabel
- Joseph Chang as Liam
- Rhydian Vaughan as Aaron
- Bryan Chang as Sean
- Serena Fang as Hsiao-bao, Aaron's wife
- Russell Tang as John Hsu, Liam's boyfriend
- Ding Ning as Hanako, Mabel's mother
- Nita Lei as Hsiao Yun
- J.C. Lei as Hsiao Shu
Reception
Critical reception for Girlfriend, Boyfriend has been mixed to positive,[3] with review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes giving the film a rating of 67%, based on 12 reviews.[4] The New York Times cited the performance of Gwei Lun-mei as a highlight, saying that she was "by turns brazen and uncertain, fragile and steely".[5] In comparison, the Los Angeles Times panned the film, stating that it "[failed] to connect" and that it "can't balance its story lines of romance and societal change".[6]
Awards and nominations
Award | Category | Recipients | Result |
---|---|---|---|
55th Asia-Pacific Film Festival | Best Actress | Gwei Lun-mei | Won |
Best Actor | Joseph Chang | Nominated | |
Best Screenplay | Yang Ya-che | Nominated | |
Best Sound | Tu Duu-chih | Nominated | |
7th Asian Film Awards | Best Actor | Joseph Chang | Nominated |
Best Actress | Gwei Lun-mei | Nominated | |
Best Supporting Actor | Rhydian Vaughan | Nominated | |
People's Choice Award - Favorite Actor | Joseph Chang | Nominated | |
People's Choice Award - Favorite Actress | Gwei Lun-mei | Nominated | |
13th Chinese Film Media Awards | Best Actress | Gwei Lun-mei | Nominated |
49th Golden Horse Awards | Best Feature Film | Girlfriend, Boyfriend | Nominated |
Audience Choice Award | Girlfriend, Boyfriend | Won | |
Best Director | Yang Ya-che | Nominated | |
Best Actor | Joseph Chang | Nominated | |
Best Actress | Gwei Lun-mei | Won | |
Best Supporting Actor | Bryan Chang | Nominated | |
Best Original Screenplay | Yang Ya-che | Nominated | |
Best Cinematography | Jake Pollock | Nominated | |
32nd Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Film from Mainland and Taiwan | Girlfriend, Boyfriend | Nominated |
14th Taipei Film Awards | Best Actor | Joseph Chang | Won |
Best Supporting Actor | Bryan Chang | Won | |
Press Award | Girlfriend, Boyfriend | Won |
References
- "Girlfriend Boyfriend - GF BF (2012) - Box Office Mojo". www.boxofficemojo.com.
- "Taiwanese Director Ya-Che Yang Discusses His New Film Girlfriend Boyfriend". Houston Press. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
- "MOVIE REVIEW: Girlfriend Boyfriend". NY Post. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
- "Reviews: Girlfriend, Boyfriend". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
- "Three Friends' Approaches to Martial Law". New York Times. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
- "Review: 'Girlfriend Boyfriend' fails to connect". LA Times. Retrieved 6 February 2013.