12 Apr

21:15

Eye Filmmuseum

IJpromenade 1, Amsterdam

In a small Chinese town, the paths of a middle-aged gay man, a lesbian couple, and a curious restaurant owner cross in their search for love and connection.

Film: Bel Ami

More info & tickets

In the heart of winter, in a small Chinese town, a middle-aged man finds true love with a man whose relationship has just ended. At the same time, a lesbian couple is looking for a homosexual man to marry and have a child with. And then there is a restaurant owner who curiously watches how his guests behave. In their search for love and connection, their paths cross.

Bel Ami, nominated for eight Golden Horse Awards including Best Feature Film, takes us on an unusual love story, where love and freedom are discussed in the setting of a snowy town in contrasting black and white. Bel Ami is both romantic and absurdly comical, with a distinct Chinese character and subtle influences from French cinema. A story that revolves around chance encounters, fleeting conversations, and lonely people who yearn for that elusive feeling: love.

About the Director

Geng Jun is a Chinese director whose award-winning work includes Free and Easy (2016) and Manchurian Tiger (2021). Bel Ami is his most recent film.