“I Want to Make Queer Films, But Not LGBT Films”: An Internview with He Xiaopei

Xiaopei, He; Kehoe, S�agh; Hongwei, Bao

Abstract

Despite decriminalization in 1997 and partial pathologization in 2001, homosexuality remains a sensitive topic in contemporary China. This is reflected in mainstream and online media where representation of LGBTQ-related issues are often subject to heavy censorship. However, despite the austere restrictions that exist, the past two decades have witnessed the emergence of “‘new queer Chinese cinema”’ (Leung 2012; Yue 2012; Pecic 2016; Bao 2018). Led by a number of young independent queer filmmakers along with advancements in new media technologies, this underground movement of queer filmmaking have has created new possibilities for imagining sexuality and gender as well as opportunities for community -building.

He Xiaopei is a leading queer feminist filmmaker, activist, and director of Beijing-based NGO Pink Space, an NGO dedicated to promoting sexual rights and gender equality. Her films include The Lucky One (Chong’er, 2012), Our Marriages: Lesbians Marry Gay Men (Yisheng qiyuan, 2013), Yvo and Chrissy (Ruci Shenghuo, 2017) and Playmates (Wanban, 2019). The Lucky One tells the story of Zhang Xi, a HIV- positive woman with only a short time to live. A kind of video diary of Zhang’s life, the film questions notions of fact and fiction, as well as the politics of representation when working with marginalized people. Our Marriages: Lesbians Marry Gay Men explores how two lesbian couples in Northeast China negotiate norms and expectations around marriage, and the possibilities for queer life in Chinese society. Yvo and Chrissy follows the lives of two people from England who gave up an inheritance of one million pounds as well as several properties, and reflects on questions of wealth, gender, sexuality, and happiness. He’s work to date has demonstrated a distinctly antinormative approach to gender and sexuality, while also highlighting some of the less discussed issues of class, precarity, and marginality in China and elsewhere.

In February 2017, Séagh Kehoe, PhD candidate from the University of Nottingham, spoke with He about her work and the place of documentary filmmaking in queer activism in China today.

Citation

Xiaopei, H., Kehoe, S., & Hongwei, B. (2019). “I Want to Make Queer Films, But Not LGBT Films”: An Internview with He Xiaopei. positions, 27(4), 811-823. https://doi.org/10.1215/10679847-7727007

• Journal Article Type: Other
• Acceptance Date: Jun 24, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Nov 17, 2019
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2019
• Deposit Date: Dec 10, 2019
• Journal: positions: asia critique
• Print ISSN: 1067-9847
• Electronic ISSN: 1527-8271
• Publisher: Duke University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 27
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 811-823
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1215/10679847-7727007
• Keywords: Literature and Literary Theory; Cultural Studies; History; Visual Arts and Performing Arts
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3526794
• Publisher URL: https://muse.jhu.edu/article/738890