Yang ± Yin: Gender in Chinese Cinema

Yang ± Yin: Gender in Chinese Cinema

80 mins | Documentary | June 4, 1998

This highly personal film essay demonstrates that Chinese cinema has dealt with questions of gender and sexuality more frankly and provocatively than any other national cinema. Yang ± Yin examines male bonding and phallic imagery in the swordplay and kung fu movies of the '60s and '70s; homosexuality; same-sex bonding and physical intimacy; the continuing emphasis on women's grievances in melodramas; and the phenomenon of Yam Kim-Fai, a Hong Kong actress who spent her life portraying men on and off the screen.

Yang ± Yin: Gender in Chinese Cinema

80 mins | Documentary | June 4, 1998

Yang ± Yin: Gender in Chinese Cinema
This highly personal film essay demonstrates that Chinese cinema has dealt with questions of gender and sexuality more frankly and provocatively than any other national cinema. Yang ± Yin examines male bonding and phallic imagery in the swordplay and kung fu movies of the '60s and '70s; homosexuality; same-sex bonding and physical intimacy; the continuing emphasis on women's grievances in melodramas; and the phenomenon of Yam Kim-Fai, a Hong Kong actress who spent her life portraying men on and off the screen.
IMDb rating 6.9
Producers British Film Institute
Original title 男生女相：華語電影之性別
Directors Stanley Kwan
Writers Elmond Yeung

Cast

Chang Cheh

as Himself

Chen Kaige

as Himself

Leslie Cheung

as Himself

Hou Hsiao-hsien

as Himself

Ang Lee

as Himself

John Woo

as Himself

Tsui Hark

as Himself

Tsai Ming-liang

as Himself

Peggy Chiao

as Herself

Xie Jin

as Himself

Xie Yang

as Himself

Edward Yang

as Himself

Allen Fong

as Himself

Zhang Yuan

as Himself

Law Kar

as Himself