Movie Review: Fleeing By Night

I have this good friend, someone I have every trust in the world with--except on one topic. We have wholly different tastes in movies. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. We still go see movies on occasion together.
 
Besides, when did Siskel and Ebert agree?
 
But one thing was for sure, when those two agreed, it most have something pretty good, eh? Something worth buying a ticket for.
 
So when my colleague suggested this Chinese film, I was figuring it wouldn't be something I liked.
 
It started simply, a tale about an arranged marriage. A young cellist, living in America, comes back to China to meet his fiance. Through the meeting he sees a performance of an outstanding opera singer and becomes smitten. The fiance recognizes thi growing love between the two men and steps back. The actor, however, is in a liason with a wealthy patron. Rumors fly. The young man returns to America broken hearted and alone, but maintains contact with his once fiance.
 
The actor continues to feel for the young man and begins his own journey to be with him again.
 
My friend was right. I loved this movie.
 
What I loved was that it didn't fall into the American trap of having 1)yelling in a public place, 2)crying and hissy fits 3)all the gays swish, so the audience can find them in a crowd, 4)violence of any sort and 5)love born out of sheer beautiful people.
 
The young protagonist falls for the actor, because his performance is so full and rich-not because he's a blonde or running around all stunning-like. The girl doesn't storm out because her betrothed doesn't love her, but understands the force of their growing love. And the homosexuality isn't the issue, the availability of that love is.
 
Wow. That's nice to see and a rare treat, just like this movie. I really recommend it.
 
And there wasn't a single drag queen or self hating queen in the bunch. America has so much to catch up on.

I will tell you, however, I am going to listen very closely to what my friend recommends from here on out.