London: "The Outsiders," Taiwan's groundbreaking 1986 gay film, was showcased in London on Friday as the opening feature of the Queer East Festival. The 4K restoration of the film was presented to a packed audience at London's Barbican Centre, marking the commencement of the festival's seventh edition.

According to Focus Taiwan, attendees of Friday's screening experienced previously omitted footage from the film, now restored in high definition. The film, initially censored during Taiwan's Martial Law era from 1949 to 1987 under the Kuomintang government, was reintroduced in its restored format. In a pre-recorded video message, the film's director, Yu Kan-ping, addressed the audience, sharing insights into the original film's requirement to remove 11 sections by governmental decree.

Yu, now 75, reflected on the significant societal changes regarding social acceptance over the past 40 years, both in Taiwan and globally. He emphasized his enduring interest in narratives about marginalized communities, highlighting the struggles of Taiwan's gay community in the 1980s, who faced societal constraints and traditional moral expectations. Yu expressed gratitude for the support from fans and investors during a time of government censorship, noting the profound impact of their backing.

Queer East director and programmer Wang Yi shared with CNA his longstanding ambition to introduce the film to British audiences, acknowledging the courage it took to create such a work in 1980s Taiwan. Wang admitted uncertainty about the opportunity to screen the film until the Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute announced the restoration's completion last year.

The Queer East festival, running from May 1 to June 6, showcases LGBTQ+ cinema, live arts, and moving image work from East and Southeast Asia across various London venues. In addition to "The Outsiders," the festival will feature the U.K. premieres of other Taiwanese works, including Tracy Choi's romantic feature "Girlfriends" and Holo Wang's documentary "A Drop in the Ocean."