Writer/director Ya-Che Yang’s new film, Girlfriend Boyfriend (GFBF), is set to be released today here in the states on a limited run and for fans of the recently surging Taiwanese cinema it’s a film that will leave likely leave you torn.
Set in 1985 and spanning 17 years, Girlfriend Boyfriend follows a trio of best friends, Liam (Joseph Chang), Aaron (Rhydian Vaughan) and Mabel (Lun Mei Gwei) as they transition from a super close pack of rebellious youths to alienated adults with strained relationships.
The film is set up into three chapters with a brief foreword and afterword. Chapter one is set in 1985 when Taiwan was still under martial law. Liam and Mabel are best friends while Aaron, who dons a weird haircut, is friendly with both but has a thing for Mabel. All three are rebellious and do everything they can to protest the stupid laws that dictate them at their high school. Eventually, Aaron has the guts to finally ask Mabel to be his girlfriend, leaving Liam upset even though the two aren’t dating.
Fast forward to 1990, Mabel and Aaron are still seeing each other while Liam and Aaron are rooming together at a house near their university. Aaron is an intense pro-democracy activist, taking part at the Wild Lily Movement sit-ins at the university while Mabel works in another town and Liam quietly goes along with everything, though he’s clearly frustrated. It’s during this time when mistakes are made, secrets are revealed, namely Liam’s love of Aaron surfaces, and friendships become strained.
More time goes by and it’s now 1997, Liam no longer associates himself with Mabel and Aaron has himself a gay lover who happens to be married. Aaron is married with children but still keeps his sexual relationship with Mabel alive since they both love each other. Though they never speak, Mabel and Liam are living similar lives, both are the “other” person in their relationship and don’t have the confidence to move on. Eventually, a few other events happen that reunite the two and everything eventually comes full circle with their relationship, but not without some unforeseen speed bumps.
The characters Yang has developed in the film are both interesting and frustrating. Mabel is this aggressive chick who acts like one of the guys and doesn’t really respect other people’s feelings, though she hopes people understand hers. Liam is very soft spoken and a closet homosexual who doesn’t gain any confid
ence until late into his 20s, making him the pushover. Aaron is the epicenter of the film and the reason any conflict occurs at all. He’s a charismatic and overall likable guy that cares about the emotions of those around him but deep down he is really a selfish asshole who has trouble keeping his own emotions in check.
At times I found GFBF to be extremely maddening, the relationships and actions of every character got progressively annoying even when they were all having a good time together. Yang has done a solid job of developing authentic characters that are complex and riddled with flaws making it very difficult to decide who to side with. The dynamic that results from this mashed up love street is fascinating and one that’ll seems completely plausible. Even though I have mixed feelings on the film and can’t decide where I truly stand, the movie is worth a watch for its ending alone, the payoff is ends up being something you really don’t see coming unless you’re paying very close attention.
Girlfriend Boyfriend is a story about family, relationships and the importance of lifelong friendships. Though it left me with a feeling of indecision about the film as a whole, there is no denying that the feature is both well written and directed. In the end, GFBF isn’t a film you have to rush out and see in theaters but if you’re a fan of the ever improving cinema that’s being exported from Taiwan it’s one you should consider checking out when it hits VOD and DVD.
Rating: A decent Taiwanese drama that never loses track of its most important asset, its characters (6/10)
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