Front Cover

It was such a great pleasure to see a film that struck a personal chord with me at the 2015 Seattle International Film Festival. Being an Asian American gay man myself, I loved that Front Cover touched on accepting one's identity in regards to both ethnic background and sexual orientation. I just don't think there are enough movies out there that touch upon both topics so this was a no-brainer for me to see at the festival. There are so many reasons why this film was amazing.

The acting by the two leads Jake Choi (Ryan) and James Chen (Ning) was top notch. The chemistry between the two was very believable and really contributed to this film being a great love story. In the question and answer portion after the viewing, we discovered that both actors are straight. Both of them were very believable as being gay in the film. Character development is also done really well as we get to know Ryan's background growing up with immigrant parents and his personal struggles later on in the film. James also does an extremely good job playing an actor from China. The accent is very realistic.

I also have to say that both the writing and directing of the film was impeccable. From start to finish, the viewer is taken on a journey the two main characters falling for each other. Not only is there a connection in the romantic sense, but they also get closer when discussing their cultural backgrounds and differences. Ray Yeung did a great job of making sure the movie flowed really well.

There are also light-hearted moments in the film as well as some comedy. We get a glimpse into the fashion world and some of the jokes made by the characters were really funny. If you liked The Devil Wears Prada then I'm sure you'll like this film as well. But for sure, this is one of my favorite films because it touched on a few personal topics that I relate with. I recommend this film to all LGBT, indie-movie lovers such as myself. I cannot wait until this comes out on DVD!

Having spent years of my life living in Asia and being gay I am always attracted to the stories that come from a gay and Asian perspective. This simple but beautiful film is worthy of your attention. It is not perfect. But, it visually shows some of the angst of self hatred and self denial that are common in the gay and Asian communities; Nothing beats the scene of family and three generations doing their best to survive and thrive in today's world tucked into the middle of this movie. I cannot wait to see what the writer and director have next to say about being an immigrant and gay in the world today. Go see this film and then reach out to hear the stories of those you know and love who may be from another place.

The moment I saw this movie listed as an entry for the Melbourne Queer Film Festival I knew that come hell or high water I had to see this movie. It promised me something pretty awesome (a movie about a gay Chinese-American guy and his relationship with his racial identity and sexuality while also showing a relationship between him and a Chinese guy?! I'm in!) and then offered up a movie that surprised me by how it was even better (and deeply bittersweet!) than I expected.

I immediately recognized a lot of my younger self in Ryan and could remember how I was always so insistent on pointing out my Aussie-born differences whenever everyone and their granny would act like I was a new immigrant and was automatically related to complete strangers so while I was definitely cringing at Ryan's reaction to Ning in the start it was from the recognition and embarrassment of my own not-so-nice behaviour in the past. Ning was interesting in how as the movie progresses you see him alongside Ryan in a far more nuanced and compassionate eye. He's also a fascinating character in his own right who changes over the course of the movie. You get the impression that no matter what he chooses he has already been permanently changed in his heart and mind and that the future might lead to more unseen changes and possibilities.

Although this is definitely a movie that wanted to explore some nuanced topics that other movies don't always show (I am so desperate for Western movies depicting Asians as complex characters!) it does so in a gently humorous way and through a slow-bubbling romance between Ryan and Ning, whose culture clash regarding their Chinese identity and homosexuality manages to be both entertaining and work as a thematic exploration. I have to admit that I have never rooted so hard for a couple before (and this is definitely a relationship that profoundly changes them by the end) but that this is ultimately a story about coming to terms with who you are. A couple of days after seeing this movie (I was still thinking about it a lot) I realized that I loved it for the same reason that I loved Roman Holiday even though these two movies are obviously very different.

The only reasons why I gave this an 8 and not a 10 is because I think that a couple of jokes won't work for some people and I have to warn that this is not quite the straightforward romantic comedy you might hope for. It's ultimately a character drama that features romance, not the other way around. I also wish the best of luck for this movie, hence the lucky number 8.

Please make this available on DVD in Australia someday! Pretty pretty please! This is basically the movie that I've been waiting for all of my life but never even realized so clearly until seeing this.

This is an easy movie to watch and like. The story is about the modern west and the modern east. Two Chinese men - one from the traditional yet modern world of China and the other born an American but Chinese by heritage. These two men are thrown together because they share a like heritage but are vastly culturally different and they are expected to communicate on a like plain. That doesn't happen.

The American is very open about his sexuality, the Chinese one is very repressed about his true sexual desires. The setting is NYC, a big open city, with liberal neighborhoods where people can feel free to be. This is where the American lives. The other one is from a big country but is expected to fit in everywhere. These two men discover their common interest in each other but we know it will never work. The cultural divide is a major stumbling point for both.

Smartly cast, great dialog, nicely edited. Enjoy !

I saw this film as part of the Seattle Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. Immediately this film came off very differently from the stereotypical "gay" films that you would see on Netflix or at lesser festivals (the Seattle festival is extremely well curated!). Front Cover focuses its attention on the idea of identity and the many different aspects of life that inform your own sense of identity. Being gay was a big part of this but nationality, upbringing, religion, etc. were all touched on. Having this well rounded approach was a big boon to the movie and kept it from being a "gay" movie and, instead, is a GOOD movie.

My biggest revelation leaving the theater is that one of the male leads, Jake Choi, needs more acting jobs in film and TV. I've seen him in a couple of small parts before Front Cover and this just proved he is an excellent actor with good range.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how touching this film was. Even if you can't personally relate to certain aspects of the characters dilemmas (being gay, being Chinese or Chinese-American), it is still well worth your time.