tlavideo.com

Review

A low-budget gay drama from China, The Old Testament offers a fascinating first-hand peek into young gay life (and independent filmmaking) in the homophobic communist country. Structured in three parts, the first and funniest story, “Psalter,” takes place in 1971. A young man living with his older brother and his wife brings home a close male “friend.” Appalled upon learning the true, gay nature of their relationship, older brother and wife hysterically scheme to sabotage their attempts to sleep together (including inserting themselves into the bed)! Set in 1981, “Proverbs” sees a nelly little queen, Xiao Hao, anxious to dump his milquetoast lover for a married man. But when the married guy finally gets divorced and moves in, life gets complicated! 2001’s melancholy “Song of Solomon” sees a young couple’s life interrupted by the arrival of an ex-boyfriend suffering from AIDS. When nursing him turns into a serious commitment, one of the lovers leaves. Unable to afford his ex’s medications alone, the other turns to desperate measures.... A major figure in the still-underground Chinese queer film scene, writer/director Cui Zien separates Old Testament’s dark, tragedy-tinged tales with bizarre a capella musical interludes. Utilizing a rotating cast, and frequent nudity, Cui Zien is an original, unflinching talent, whose work heralds a hopeful new era in his country’s queer history. (Mandarin with English subtitles)

 -- Lawrence Ferber