Culture / Dec. 21, 2021
5 years ago, actors Adam Lin and Huang Guan-Zhi worked with GagaOOLala for the production of 5 Lessons in Happiness: Little Man, a short film that explores the idea that a man is defined by his ‘size’. Back then, neither of them would have believed that they would be reprising their roles as each other’s significant other. But here we are, at the end of 2021, with the two men joining hands once more for GagaOOLala’s e latest gay short film Komorebi. The film is unique not only for its over 80% of Taiwanese dialogue but also in how it explores one of the most common themes of LGBT content –– coming out.
Watch Komorebi on GagaOOLala
（Image／@adamlin_linadam／Instagram）
Komorebi follows Jhe-Ming, a 30-year-old man who is yet to settle down and start a family. The story begins with him returning to Tainan, his hometown, where he will meet his family to celebrate his mother’s birthday. What’s different this time is that he is no longer single. He is freshly married to a man that he loves more than anything in the world. The problem is that this most likely isn’t a piece of news that his mom would take kindly. Will he be able to muster the courage and initiate that ever-dreaded conversation?
（Image／@adamlin_linadam／Instagram）
Jhe-Ming is played by Adam Lin, who is also known by many as the guy with '4D pecks'. The man got his first taste of fame from a Facebook fan page dedicated to the photographing of sexy male bodies. Before that, he was a fitness trainer. He then quit his job, moved to Taipei, began a career in the entertainment business, and has been since featured in a variety of film and short films, including The Story of The Stone, Mermaid Prince, and 5 Lessons in Happiness: Little Man.
（Image／@adamlin_linadam／Instagram）
With much experience under his belt, Lin takes on the leading role for Komorebi. In the film, he has a heart-warming, tear-jerking scene with actress Lotus Wang, a.k.a the ‘national gay mom’, who is known for her many memorable roles as a gay protagonist’s mother. As the third such protagonist, Lin takes on his role under pressure. When asked which is her favourite, Wang asserted that she loves every one of them, but Lin is the sweetest!
（Image／@adamlin_linadam／Instagram）
In addition to working with Wang for the first time, this is Lin’s second time working with Huang Guan-Zhi as a couple since 5 Lessons in Happiness: Little Man. Even with the rapport that they built over their last collaboration; the production still posed many challenges for the two men as they worked hand in hand to create this delicate, poignant portrayal of what it means to be a modern Taiwanese gay man.
（Image／@adamlin_linadam／Instagram）
