Candy Rain, Possible Asexual Lesbian?

[less-than-beloved]

So since this is a movie, I'm sorry if I shouldn't post this in here, but I couldn't find where else to post. Once again, I looked and this seemed to be the best place.

Has anyone else seen the Taiwanese lesbian film Candy Rain? The film follows four different storylines about four lesbian couples trying to find love. While three out of the four storylines involve sexual relationships, the second plot covers a couple who cannot work because of differing love-styles.

Here's a preview of that particular storyline.

This couple, U and Lin, find each other online and begin to date. However, U is shy with affection and chooses not to kiss or have sex. Lin is a sexual person, which she makes pretty clear throughout their story. I won't tell you how they turn out; you should watch for yourself and tell me what you think about their relationship! You didn't hear this from me, but you can watch the film on Youtube. PM me if you need a link.

The only thing I find slightly frustrating about this story is the need to portray U as obsessive-compulsive. Not saying that there aren't OCD asexuals, or OCD lesbians, or OCD asexual lesbians, but I guess I would prefer a media portrayal that didn't involve a possible mental disorder. I don't like when asexuality and mental disorders are confused. =__=

[Zanzibel]

This sounds interesting! I'll definitely check it out and let you know what I think ;)

[CoralSea]

less-than-beloved, thank you for the pointer. I didn't know that you can watch this entire movie online! I looked it up and watched the movie. Here are some of my thoughts:

I looked up some information about the movie on the internet, and it looks like the 4 storylines are based on true stories. Some, but not all, of the actresses are lesbian or bisexual in real life. Personally I don't understand the fourth storyline at all-- it's too avant garde for me. But the first 3 storylines do look like things that many lesbians can relate to in real life.

In the second storyline, it doesn't seem to me that the movie was trying to portray the 20-something chef, U, as an asexual lesbian. I think the movie was trying to portray her as a reserved -and maybe somewhat repressed- perfectionist lesbian that wants to take things slow, establish a deeper connection with a romantic partner before having sex. She did not really find the deeper connection with the mid-30 woman she found through online dating website. Can't blame her, really-- I also find the mid-30 woman character superficial, bossy, and condescending-- I wouldn't be inspired to sleep with her either even if I'm a sexual lesbian. Deep connection is very important to me as well. In any case, the movie does show that U is attracted to women physically in the movie sequences where she is commuting to/from work by bus and in the subway-mall (and the cinematography is done with a slight sexual undertone), which is why I don't think the U character is an asexual lesbian.

Personally I resonate the most with the third storyline. Maybe it's because the characters in the third storyline are approximately my age (30 something), so I can relate to their perspectives of the world and the roles they feel they need to play in the society at this age. What I especially like about the third storyline is that the 4 characters' takes on love are all based on what their loved one wants and what makes their love one happy, and not about their own expectations of what they think their loved one should play in their lives. The 4 characters (the femme, the butch, the husband, and the femme's sister) all put aside their own self interest and preconceived notion of how their relationship should be, so to support the path that their loved one has chosen. This kind of love is so free, so burdenless, so selfless, generous and kind. Like the saying, "if you set a caged bird free and if she returns to you, she is meant to be yours..." The freedom and the letting go in the third storyline clearly contrasts the second storyline, which portrays control in relationship dynamic and in the character's own life.

Other than that, I find parts of the movie confusing. I think the fourth storyline is too weird for me. I also don't see the relevance of the Candy Rain parcel deliveries in each of the stories, other than it being an attempt to loosely tie each story to the movie title and the theme song. The movie opening sequence and ending credit sequence are pretty abstract. (Well, it's an "art film.") However, I like the selection of songs that accompany the stories.