Suk Suk

Pak (Tai Bo), a 70-year-old taxi driver who refuses to retire, leads a double life. When away from his grouchy but well-intentioned wife (Patra Au), Pak cruises the men’s toilets in Hong Kong. Happening upon Hoi (Ben Yuen), a 65-year-old retired father in a park, a clandestine romance blooms in a cautious series of invitations. Both tethered to their families for different reasons, the two dignified men try to contemplate future together that will not hurt the ones that they love.

…is the another great piece of Asian cinema that should comfortably take its place next to The Farewell.

‘Suk Suk’ is a sublime portrait of two gay men in Hong Kong discovering true love at the end of their ‘dutiful’ lives. Tenderly hued in caution and concern about how their families might react, director Ray Yeung reveals the cultural and societal pressures that both men feel holding them back from full-blown commitment. Where Pak is surrounded by an ardent family and yet married to a wife from whom his passion has passed, Hoi’s born-again Christian son continually chides him in the virtuous way to bring up a family.

Similar to other closeted gay romances where the main characters dare not reveal their ardour (i.e. ‘God’s Own Country‘ and ‘Brokeback Mountain‘), we get to see, together with Pak and Hoi how their lives could be together. Beautifully pulling other nuanced strands like retirement, gay rights and faith as-opposed-to religion, ‘Suk Suk’ is a true gem that delivers both candour and compassion in equal measure.

With excellent performances from Tai Bo as the initially indifferent cruiser Pak, and Ben Yuen as the more soulful romantic Hoi – and not forgetting the tear-jerking expressions from Patra Au as Pak’s wife – ‘Suk Suk’ is the another great piece of Asian cinema that should comfortably take its place next to ‘The Farewell‘. 

Sensitive, uplifting and inspiring, this is one fine romance you don’t want to miss out on.