East Palace West Palace (1996) - Dong gong xi gong

East Palace West Palace (1996) Country: China Release Year: 1996 Aka: Dong gong xi gong Director: Zhang Yuan Writer: Zhang Yuan, Wang Xiaobo Language: Mandarin Genre: Drama Runtime: 90 min Cast: Si Han, Hu Jun, Ye Jing, Zhao Wei Studio: Quelqu'Un D'Autre Productions Amazon Entertainment Ltd. Ocean Films, Strand Releasing Imdb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119007/

In China, homosexuality isn't illegal, but homosexuals are routinely persecuted by police and arrested for "hooliganism". The film focuses on a young gay writer A-Lan who, being attracted to a young policeman, manages to have himself interrogated for a whole night. His life-story which he tells during the interrogation reflects the general repression of the Chinese society. The policeman's attitude shifts from the initial revulsion to fascination and, finally, to attraction.