Rebecca Davis editorC.B. Yi’s Un Certain Regard title “Moneyboys” is a moving exploration of Chinese rural-to-urban migration that feels authentically emotional despite being peppered with incongruous moments and details.The film follows Fei (Kai Ko), who moves from the countryside to Chinese cities to support his family as a hustler.
When he realizes that they accept his money but not his homosexuality, their relationship breaks down. Although set in China’s megacities and rural countryside, “Moneyboys” was filmed entirely in Taiwan.
While leading man Kai Ko delivers a nuanced, heart-rending portrayal of the hustler Fei and real chemistry with his male love interests Long (Bai Yufan) and Xiaolai (JC Lin), none of them publicly identify as.