Queering the Canon: VIVE L’AMOUR (1994)

Winner of the prestigious Golden Lion at the 1994 Venice International Film Festival, this entrancing tale from acclaimed auteur Tsai Ming-liang follows three characters unknowingly sharing an ostensibly empty Taipei apartment.

Realtor May Lin (Yang Kuei-mei) oversees the on-the-market high-rise unit, which she uses for temporary trysts. Young funeral salesman Hsiao-kang (Lee Kang-sheng) – having discovered keys in the door one day – occasionally occupies the space to secretly act out displays of repressed identity. When they both separately find themselves drawn to attractive vagabond Ah-jung (Chen Chao-jung), a thirsty triangle of wandering souls is formed as the three casually cross paths in a series of tragicomic erotic encounters.

Featuring an intoxicating mix of unquenchable longing and surprising deadpan humor, VIVE L’AMOUR opens doors to the ways in which lust, alienation, and sexuality overlap in the unending search for personal satisfaction.

Special guest introduction by author Michael Koresky.