Crystal Boys

A tender, melancholic immersion into a marginalized community, where moments of warmth and friendship are shadowed by societal rejection and personal struggle.

Created by

Tsao Jui-yuan

Genres

Drama

Starring

Tou Tsung-hua, Fan Wing, Joseph Chang Hsiao-Chuan

Overview

A-Qing, a sensitive youth in 1971 Taipei, is expelled from school and rejected by his family after a same-sex relationship with classmate Zhao Ying is discovered. Alone and searching for belonging, he begins spending time at New Park, a gathering place for gay men, where he meets friends and fellow outsiders navigating love, desire, and survival in a society that ostracizes them. Through his experiences and those of his peers, the story explores identity, friendship, longing, and the struggle for acceptance, offering a nuanced portrait of Taiwan’s gay subculture in the early 1970s and the bonds that sustain a marginalized community.

How it feels

Melancholic, earnest, dark and warm. Slow-burning and needs your attention.

About

Identity, isolation, friendship, family

Content

Mild violence, sexual content and language. No gore.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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Watch the trailer on YouTube (opens in a new tab)