Fei has left behind the village he grew up in and is now living in Beijing as a moneyboy – a sex worker. Still grieving the loss of his first love and mentor Xiaolai, he is caught between the diversity of lifestyles in the capital and the economic responsibility for his family back home. A surprise encounter with his childhood friend Long threatens to upset the fragile balance he has found. C.B. Yi’s first feature-length fiction film cleverly captures the subtleties and nuances of diverse lifestyles in a society dominated by patriarchal structures. Alternating between explicit scenes and long and visually impressive takes that give the viewer time to empathise, MONEYBOYS also leaves deliberate narrative gaps and room for imagination. (dp)
Intro
Dance Battle: DANCE INTO THE MOMENT
Host: Emily Chychy Joost
Outro
In the presence of the filmmaker.