Queer East 2025: Murmur of Youth

Two adolescent girls in Taiwan, both named Mei-li, meet when they get a job in a cinema box office. Chen Mei-li is from an affluent family, but does not get much warmth from her embittered father and selfish mother, while the father of Lin Mei-li, a construction worker, wants to spare his daughter from the hardships he has faced in life.

The two girls begin to bond as they chat about family, work and school; but gradually, their conversations become more intimate. Released at a time when Taiwanese queer cinema was rising in prominence, this drama by award-winning director Lin Cheng-Sheng explores the complex connections between family, society, and the individual. Beautifully capturing the bittersweet essence of youth, this poignant coming-of-age story features sensitive performances from Liu Ruo-Ying and Jing Tseng.