Alifu，the Prince/ss(HKAFF 2017)

After dealing with death as co-director of Seven Days in Heaven, director Wang Yu-lin uses his latest film to tackle an even bigger social issue: gender identity. Wang’s charming triptych tells three love stories featuring transgendered protagonists. A 25-year old aboriginal man struggles between getting a sex change or inheriting the tribal chief position; a drag queen bar owner carries a torch for a plumber who isn’t interested in reciprocating the affection; and a government worker is rocked out of his dull everyday existence when he begins performing as a drag queen while struggling to hide it from his girlfriend. Arriving during the most important period of Taiwan’s LGBTQ movement, Alifu, The Prince/ss is a rousing celebration of love, equality, and acceptance.