Taiwan sends ‘Marry My Dead Body’ to the Oscars
It’s that time again, folks! Countries around the world are currently sending their nominations to the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences to be considered for Best International Feature Film at the Oscars. Taiwan has opted to send its queer smash hit Marry My Dead Body to the Academy in consideration of the award for this particular category. A shortlist of 15 films will be announced on December 21, 2023 with final nominations scheduled for announcement on January 23, 2024. The 96th Academy Awards is slated to take place on March 10, 2024.
Taiwan is known as the unofficial leader in queer filmmaking in Asia. Taiwan has a robust filmmaking industry in general, however, the country has produced some of the most popular and profound queer Asian films in modern times. Marry My Dead Body is no exception to this standard.
One of the outstanding things about this film is that it’s not just a queer story. It’s a well-written and directed story rooted in supernatural elements that delves into areas of both hilarity and profound seriousness all at the same time.
Lead character Wu Ming Han (Gren Han Hsu) is a homophobic police officer who typically works in the drug squad. Because of disciplinary action over his use of excessive force and his extensive use of homophobic language on the job, he is demoted and ends up getting reassigned to a smaller unit.
Meanwhile, co-lead character Mao Pan-Yu (Po Hung-Lin) is an out gay man just trying to live his best life. One day, amidst an argument with his father about his sexuality and the man he wants to make his life partner, the man storms out of his family home during dinner and, highly upset and emotional, stumbles into oncoming traffic. He is struck by a car and dies suddenly and violently.
In a supernatural twist of fate, Wu Ming Han ends up ghost married to Mao Pan-Yu. The curse can’t be lifted until Wu Ming Han helps his now ghost husband to complete his unfulfilled wishes. The homophobic man has many lessons to learn before this can be completed and moments of hilarity ensue, as well as moments of heartfelt growth and human development.
Apart from being the leader in queer filmmaking in the Asian region, Taiwan is also currently the leader in queer rights advocacy in Asia. They are the only Asian country that has legalized same-sex marriage, and in May of 2023, Taiwan also became the only Asian country that now legally allows same-sex couples to adopt children they are not actually related to.
We will be waving our rainbow flag at the 96th Academy Awards, sending all our luck and best wishes to Taiwan and Marry My Dead Body. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for all queer stuff!
Featured Image: Courtesy of Netflix
