Suk suk

The senior romance, especially the queer ones, is such a rarity. Therefore, the love story between two discreet grandfathers in Twilight's Kiss is worthy of celebration. The melancholic story might be too subdued for its own good since the emotion was a little restrained in giving a more poignant impact, yet it still feels authentic, heartfelt, and moving nonetheless.

Based on Kinsey's research, gay is about 10% of the population and to do a film on a subject that is a subgroup of that 10% is a bold move backed by strong conviction. Moonlight is one. It is about fending off discrimination of a minority within a minority with a story about being black and gay at the same time. Suk Suk is equally bold if not more so. It is our latest entry in this less than 10% arena. It is about the silver group of elderlies who lived their prime in a less accepting time and are now facing love, commitments and what is in front of them. In terms of approach, Moonlight is vibrant and sassy with dramatic peaks and valleys, Suk Suk on the other hand is calm and without too much of any surprising life's ripples. For that I must give it even more credit for being genuine and not creating unnecessary high drama out of the subject because over-milking would have been a cheap and easy way out. As a film, Suk Suk takes time to examine every blade of grass in the unremarkably plain of day to day living, and in doing so, the film becomes quite remarkable. The performances by Mr. Ben Yuen and Mr. Tai Bo is simply world class in their subtleties and realism. There are other well fitted artistic decisions in the project that sing in harmony with each other and for all the above reasons, it is a film I highly recommend.

One of the best movies I've watched in 2021. Wonderful acting and such an important discussion regarding the elderly gay community. Even though the story is told in Hong Kong, this is a discussion that must be faced everywhere. Definitely a must see.

Summary

A delicate, tender (although not without audacity) portrait with that special oriental sensibility of a gay love story between two mature men in today's Hong Kong.

Review Pak (Po Tai) works as a taxi driver in Hong Kong; He is 70 years old, married with two children and a granddaughter, and meets Hoy (Ben Yuen), a 65-year-old divorced retiree. Both will build a loving bond.

Almost from the beginning, we note where Pak channels (and restrains) the homosexual side of him. But it is Hoy, more self-assured, who begins to propose a different path that the first accepts. In what areas will these two men build their refuges for intimacy? How will they reconcile this romance with their well-established family lives?

Director Ray Yeung shows us the tenderness that these two mature men are capable of, with beautiful scenes of sexual intimacy between them. The secret romance and its drifts flow and make their way, alternating with the family vicissitudes of both and connecting with past losses.

The film develops a subplot that refers to young gay activists who seek to create an asylum for homosexual older men (since many of them do not have families to take care of them when they can no longer fend for themselves), the meetings with them and the difficult issue of visibility.

With all these elements, Yeung builds a delicate, entertaining and adult story, not without audacity and fortunately very far from the geriatric romances of American cinema, and with the discreet and tender hallmark of Eastern cinema when it comes to portraying the bonds. Pak and Hoy (both protagonists are remarkable) are two mature men, desiring (it is remarkable how they "rejuvenate" when they are together) and responsible, willing to try a love bond.

Undoubtedly, a sensitive and great love story.

This is a nice quiet story. It has all the elements to be an indie "darling". It's well done but I think it would have been far superior if we had focused more on Hoi than in Pak. We've seen Pak's story so many times and there is nothing really new there. You could say the same about Hoi but he at least has some nuances and much more heart. He's not only looking for love but giving it all around, to his grandchild and more importantly to his friends.

This last part is what really made the movie stand out. The stories of these various gay Chinese men and their struggle for a retirement home is far more interesting than the love story and I really wish we had seen more of it. A sequel perhaps?