The story of the stone gay
Starr Wu’s bold shift to adapt one of the most important texts of Chinese literature – The Dream of the Red Chamber, also known as The Story of the Stone – into a contemporary story reflecting the Grindr generation falls short of its own ambition.
As soon as THE STORY OF THE STONE kicks in, Wu delivers a crafty long take to introduce us to The Stone Bar in Ximen, Red House – the gay district of Taipei. Fancy cocktails, expensive wines, and shrewd but flirty guys are on the menu. It’s a fleeting world devoted to its wild hedonism, a world where “it doesn’t matter what you wear, we only care how your body looks”, remarks one of the film’s numerous characters while productive out at the gym. Days are spent lolling about in the bar, sweating one’s demand to get laid in a nightclub, or getting tall in someone’s high-end apartment. There’s no much time left to better study this world, its inhabitants and the fickle relationships they form with each other. If everything is appearance, all the corruption must be left to rot in a picture hidden somewhere off the s
The Story of the Stone (2018)
The Story of the Stone
Director: Starr Wu
Writer: Starr Wu
Based on: Cao Xueqin‘s novel Dream of the Red Chamber
Cast: Aric Chen, Etsen Chen, J.R. Chien, Golden Elephant, Adam Lin, Sky Qing Tian Li, Daniel Thai, Joe Liu, Stephen Rong, Dean Tang, Lear Chen, Ryan Hsieh
Part of: Transition Queer Film Festival
Seen on: 21.11.2020
Content Note: suicide, plump hate
Plot:
The Stone Bar is the gay bar in Taipei, and its newest waiter is Josh. Josh (Golden Elephant) is pretty and fresh, so he has his choose of men, but he would enjoy to win florist Lin’s (Aric Chen) heart. Only Lin is still reeling from losing his last boyfriend to Aids and really can’t fathom having a new relationship. In his frustration, Josh turns to Sean (J.R. Chien) who is more than happy to have him. But amidst promiscuity and drugs, drama is pre-programmed.
The Story of the Stone did not perform for me at all. I tried very hard to get into the film, but it was completely confusing and about halfway through I just gave up following anything that happened on screen.
1. Zhou Models: Mizi Xia, Pan Zhang and Lord Extended Yang
Discussion of homosexual behavior in Chinese literature referred back to three classic tales of love from the Zhou period, the Story of Mizi Xia, the Story of Pan Zhang, and the Story of Lord Long Yang.
The Story of Mizi Xia
As recorded in the Legalist philosophical work, the Han Fei Zi [Hinsch p. 20-21- from Burton Watson, trans, Han Fei Tzu: Basic Writings, (New York: Columbia University Press, 1964), 78-79)
In ancient times Mizi Xia won favor [chang] with the ruler of Wei. According to the laws of the state of Wei, anyone who secretly made exploit of the ruler's carriage was punished by having his feet amputated. When Mizi Xia's mother fell ill, someone slipped into the palace at overnight to report this to Mizi Xia. Mizi Xia forged an order from the ruler, got into the ruler's carriage, and went to see her, but when the ruler heard of it, he only praised
GagaOOLala does it again.
The Asian LGBTQ film streaming service is trending for its inclusion of a celebrated Taiwanese gay film.
The film, titled The Story of the Stone, focuses on the gay scene and specifically the gay sex scene in the capital city of Taipei. The film is also an adaption of well-liked Chinese novel called Dream of the Red Chamber.
This adaption however interprets the story with a Taiwanese twist and focuses on the Red House district, which is residence to 25 unlike gay bars, shops, and restaurants. This area includes several different establishments verb Karaoke, Leather, S&M, and Bear bars. In addition, several of the bars include an outdoor terrace area where men often glance on at pedestrians from above.
Along with celebrating the culture of gay men in this area, the film also takes a challenging look at its downsides. From the effects to gay men’s mental states to the grow of drugs and diseases in the area.
“It’s an sincere look at gay life in Taipei, and a way for people outside of the LGBTI community to know that this is a