Spring Fever (春风沉醉的夜晚 – Chūnfēng Chénzuì de Yèwǎn) is a Chinese movie released in 2009. It is directed by Lou Ye, a sixth generation filmmaker, who is known to produce independent, low budget films that explore contemporary issues in China.
The film was secretly made during Lou Ye’s five year ban on filmmaking after the screening of Summer Palace. Nonetheless, the film was released in Hong Kong and competed in the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.
The film depicts a young threesome romantic relationship. The movie begins when Lin finds out her husband, Wang, is cheating on her with another man, Jiang. She confronts her husband which leads to Jiang cutting off all contact with Wang and beginning an affair with another man, Luo, who also happens to have a very much in love girlfriend, Li.
Wang commits suicide soon after, while Jiang continues to have homosexual erotic experiences. Devastated by Wang’s suicide, the Jiang goes away with Luo; Li follows them. She discovers the relationship and in the name of her powerful love for Luo, decides to share him with Jiang. A love triangle begins and ends at the end of the movie once they are back from their trip.
The movie was banned because of its sexually explicit scenes. Moreover, the movie depicted extremely taboo homosexual relationships as well as improper love triangles which were not accepted by Chinese standards.
The movie was banned for its outright critique of the ubiquitous Chinese sexual repression that goes against the theoretical legality of homosexuality; the taboo is clearly engrained in Chinese culture. The production is in defiance of a five-year filmmaking ban put in place by the Chinese State Administration of Radio, Film and Television.
The film was noted for its use of ancient poems and onscreen subtitles that mimics the printing of ancient scrolls in China to show the intersection between old and new ideals, such as homosexuality, throughout the course of history in China.
This is a rather dark and grim love story but its visual and audio element makes the movie a compelling watch for indie film lovers.
In the last post we recommended current affairs readings about homosexuality in China. In this post, we would like to introduce some readings about several important LGBT activists in China.
Xiaomingxiong is Hong Kong’s first gay rights activists. Read about his interview here.
Jason Chao is an LGBT activist from Macau who is known for running a satirical newspaper called Macau Concealer. Check out his website here.
Ou Xiaobai created a LGBT for the queer community to hide their sexuality from their parents. Read it here.
Everything You Can't Find in China 