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As the most misunderstood, disregarded, and unappreciated community with the LGBTQ+ umbrella, it's fair to say that members of the trans community have suffered the most in their plight towards securing their rights, acceptance, and recognition facing unprecedented levels of stigma and discrimination at every step of their way throughout the course of history. Denoting or relating to a person whose sense of personal identity and gender does not correspond with their birth sex, the transgender community encompasses multiple identities that include the likes of trans-man (FTM), trans-woman (MTF), and queer that are all different when it comes to their physiological structures and gender identities. Thus, keeping in tune with the spirit of the pride month, Lalatai seeks to shed light on the beauty and disposition of the transgendered with five trans titles from Taiwan that boldly champion the trans spirit. 

Wrath of Desire

 (Source: Harvest Productions Film Co.)

The erotic suspense film Wrath of Desire narrates the accounts of a complicated murder trial with three confessions by three different suspects being made: the prosecutor Jade Liu (played by Chia Wei, Weng) says she's the one who did it, the model Meng Ye (Jade’s husband, played by Yu-Ting, Hsu) confesses that he is the guilty one. However, the victim Phoenix Du (played by Peace Yang) insists that she, herself, is the one who put the dagger into her own heart at her final moment. Driven by carnal lust, Wrath of Desire documents the desire, jealousy, hatred between the Phoenix, Jade, and Meng with the love from hell inevitably resulting in the irreversible murder of Phoenix Du at the end of the movie. Actor Yu-Ting, Hsu, who plays the role of the model Meng Ye in the film, is known to have shed more than 10 kgs of his body weight to fit into the role of the genderless being with Hsu doing an incredible job at depicting the true, inner voice and personality of the non-binary character.

Watch Wrath of Desire on GagaOOLala

Miss Andy

(Source: mm2 Entertainment Co.Ltd.)

Miss Andy is a film about the story of a transgender woman Andy, a foreign worker Sophia, and a hearing-impaired teenager Teck who cross paths and decide to live with each other. Struggling for years, 55-year old Andy finally declares herself as a woman. However, after she shelters Sophia with her son, Teck, everything takes a turn for the downhill all of a sudden and out of nowhere. Being in a city full of indifference and discrimination, the film imparts the message that it takes more courage to live than die, and hope is the only thing that can ultimately set you free. Miss Andy marks actor Lee, Lee-Zen's first time to play the role of a transgender character in his career with the challenge of playing the role coming from the emotional complexity within Andy, a depressed but coquettish character at the same time.

Watch Miss Andy's Trailer

Splendid Float 

(Source: GagaOOLala)

Roy leads a double life. During the daytime, he is a Taoist monk attending funerals, at night, he roams the beaches as drag queen Rosa. During one of his performances singing on playback with other drag queens, he meets Sunny. Their passionate love is however ended by an accident during which Sunny drowns. Roy is to conduct the final rites for him. For this purpose, he chooses a beautiful place amidst high rocks. Can love truly defeat death? Splendid Float is the first film about the transvestite queen of Taiwan and it creates some eye-catching musical scenes like those of the movies, The Adventures of Priscilla and Queen of the Desert.

Watch Splendid Float on GagaOOLala

Alifu, the Prince/ss

(Source: GagaOOLala)

Alifu, a 25-year-old Paiwan boy, works as a hair-dresser in Taipei. Alifu struggles between his dream of getting a sex change operation and inheriting the position of the chief of the Paiwan tribe. His lesbian roommate/co-worker, Pei-Zhen, is his best friend. Elsewhere, Sherry, a transgender man, is the owner of a drag queen bar in the city. For years, Sherry has been in love with the plumber, Wu. Even though Sherry has been selflessly treating Wu with kindness, Wu only sees him as his buddy. Finally, Chris is a government worker who lives a dull life. A one-time gig as a drag queen in the bar unexpectedly became his only way to relieve stress. He has been performing there ever since. Chris is keeping this gig a secret from his girlfriend, Angie, who works as a piano instructor. Between the different races, gender, and problems of Taiwan, the only common ground that connects them all is the universal feeling of love.

Watch Alifu, the Prince/ss on GagaOOLala

Lady CaCa

(Source: GagaOOLala)

Another soul is living in CaCa's body. Just as she decides to come clean with her biological gender, her boyfriend proposes to her. Should she confess, at the risk of losing all the happiness she ever had, or should she keep things the way they are? A phone call then takes her back to her hometown which she had long left behind, where her sister needs her to take care of their mother who is mentally ill. Throughout the years, CaCa's father has relentlessly been seeking help via both medical and supernatural means. And yet, her mother’s madness shows not the slightest sign of improvement. CaCa feels for her mother, but like the rest of the family, fails to deal with her drastic mood swings. When her mother sees another nervous breakdown that jeopardizes her sister's marriage, CaCa takes the blame. Will she be able to pull herself together in the middle of such chaos, and will she muster the courage to face her true self?

Watch Lady CaCa on GagaOOLala

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