Remembering Gor Gor

by Tin

Leslie Cheung Kwok-Wing (1956-2003)

As I was watching Happy Together for the thousandth time, it struck me that this month was the eighth anniversary of the untimely death of Leslie Cheung, nicknamed elder brother (pronounced “gor gor” in Cantonese). If Michael Jackson and James Dean had a love child who was Chinese, it would be the prolific singer/actor Leslie. As you may have already known, not only was he “one of the founding fathers of Cantopop,” he was also voted the most favorite actor in Chinese cinema.

Openly bisexual in the later half of his career, Gor Gor did not shy away from queer roles in films. His film roles were as iconic in Hong Kong film history as they were to the Hong Kong psyche since the 80s. His persona embodied both the masculine and the feminine.

Here is a list of my favorite roles of Gor Gor:

Ling Choi Sin–A Chinese Ghost Story (1987)

As the clumsy and handsome scholar, he stole the heart of the gorgeous spirit played by Joey Wang (Yum!). Ling might be timid and weak. But he would not give up his love without a fight, even if it meant he had to defeat the evil tree demon! On a side note, does anyone else think that the Tree Demon is one of the campiest characters in Chinese films? What’s with the giant tongue?

Yuddy–Days of Being Wild (1990)

No one could assume the quintessential 60s rebellious playboy role with as much ease and believability as Gor Gor. His famous line in the film about the bird born without legs which only lands once when it dies encapsulates not only his character but him in real life. Frankly I would take Yuddy over Jim Stark any day.

Shang So–All’s Well, Ends Well (1992)

Even though his character was not gay, this was definitely one of Gor Gor’s more queerious roles. As the second son in a dysfunctional family, Shang acts in a very effeminate way and his character is a counterpart to Teresa Mo’s overtly “manish” character. His “transformation” into masculinity after a night’s passion was both outrageous and hysterical.

Cheng Dieyi–Farewell My Concubine (1993)

I re-watched this film when I was doing research on my own Chinese opera-themed project. In Gor Gor’s first gay role, he played a Beijing opera singer who specialized in Dan (female) role and fell in love with his male singing partner. His female persona on the opera stage was as beautiful as that of Mei Lanfang.

Ho Po-wing–Happy Together (1997)
In his second gay and most daring film role, Gor Gor played one half of a couple traveling in Argentina as their relationship went adrift opposite Tony Leung. When I watched this film the first time, I was stunned by the audacity and graphic nature of the opening sex scene that included two of the most popular actors of all time in Hong Kong. Gor Gor captured the playfulness and fragility of the less committed one of the couple perfectly well. Their tango scene is one of the most hauntingly beautiful and heartbreaking in all of Wong Kar Wai’s films.

Jim Law–Inner Senses (2002)

In his last film role and one that allegedly troubled him immensely and exacerbated his depression problem in real life, Gor Gor played a psychiatrist who saw ghosts after treating a patient who claimed she was experiencing the same thing. The film’s ending where Jim was standing on the ledge of a building being urged by a ghost to jump down eerily resembled that of Gor Gor’s, except the ending wasn’t a happy one for him in real life.

Gor Gor, we’ll always miss you.