Note: Some spoilers.

Romantic and sorrowful, "Fleeing by Night" offers yet another glimpse into a gay coming out story but with many nuances and plotlines to make it unique. The film concerns a relationship between a young Taiwanese cellist and his female cousin back home, to whom he is engaged. When the young girl becomes interested in a operatic actor playing at her father's local theater, the cellist is intrigued as well.

Now, if I hadn't seen this film at a gay film festival, the subtle yet apparent intersecting lines between the two males' path might not be so obvious in the coming. But with this prior knowledge, it is painfully clear. And since the film is set in the late 30's, the love that dares not speak its name is obviously going to be problematic.

But "Fleeing by Night" doesn't go where you expect it to go. Instead it turns into a message about missing out on that once chance you have for love simply because you close your mind to possibilities and inclinations. And it says this in a beautiful yet sorrowful way.

There is a gay relationship in the film that is quite troubling. An older male "patron" of the young actor obviously has intentions towards the boy. This male character is seen as the villain in the piece and it is all we can do not to hiss and throw tomatoes when he arrives on screen, he is that monstrously stereotypical. The actor playing the part as well as the film's blocking and direction easily make him an evil villain. I was bothered by this. When the young man gets drunk and then is seduced/raped by the man, the alarm rings even louder.

But the film does an interesting and pointed thing with this relationship. As time passes and the man grows older, the boy begins to take care of him. There is some sort of love there, whether pure or not, and the film at least doesn't suggest any right or wrong in this scenario. It redeems a rather sordid and stereotypical plotline and relationship by taking it to a place it is rarely taken in gay film.

But the true romance of the story comes between the three young characters. In the female, we find a character that many of us, as gay men, have all known. Not fag hag and not victim, the female here is in love with both that "gay" males. Yet, when it becomes apparent that they are in love with one and other, and after a little thought, she acquiesces and respects that love. I'm not saying she is happy about it (this film is definitely not about happiness) or untroubled by it, but she does grow to respect it and see the beauty in it.

If there is any problem with this melancholy romantic triangle film, it is that it goes on a bit too long. The film has a natural and easy flow as it unfolds most of the way. Sadly, the device of letter writing and narration is used to introduce the plot and then act as epilogue. But epilogue here goes on for almost 20 or 30 minutes. The film slowly unwinds to finish off its depressing and saddening end and we know no respite is in store for us. We know there is no happy ending coming. It is somewhat difficult to make it through the ending. One must be determined.

Yet, with all its older gay male oppressor stereotypicality and its contrived plot turns leading only to desperation, the film's brutal verisimilitude and lyrical heart often give the piece wings. Even if that lyrical heart is beating against a backdrop of Taiwanese opera and theater that sounds sometimes like a cat screeching, at least to some Western ears.

Report Card Script: B+ Acting: A Cinematography\Lighting: A+ Special Effects\Make Up: A+ Music: C Final Grade: B+

And Help Support Filethirteen! Get Your "Fleeing by Night" Stuff... Search: All Products Books Popular Music Classical Music Video DVD Toys & Games Baby Computer & Video Games Electronics Software Tools & Hardware Outdoor Living Kitchen & Housewares Camera & Photo Wireless Phones Keywords: