Breaking Walls

A story of resistance in a world full of control.

Behind Hoi Yi's public fight for freedom of expression lies an inner conflict. As a queer man, he moves between two worlds: the liberty of his life in the Netherlands and the social expectations placed on him by his family in China. While he helps Iranian journalists bypass censorship, his personal life slowly unravels. His arranged marriage to Mei-Lan is coming to an end, and his partner Fred longs for recognition that Hoi cannot give him. Upon arriving in China, Hoi is immediately confronted with repression, and with his family's quiet longing for a grandchild. A confrontational conversation with Mei-Lan, who is pregnant by another queer man, forces Hoi to reflect on himself. In search of grounding, he dives into the underground queer communities of China, where he unexpectedly finds space to redefine his boundaries. During the family dinner on New Year's Day, Hoi decides to speak out. The rejection that follows is painful and direct. Yet this confrontation sets something in motion: in an emotional speech at the Freedom Festival in Bangkok, Hoi manages to unite his personal and political struggle. His words move the audience, and also Fred, who watches on, quietly moved.

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