“It did little to make the gay character clear to the audience to get an official approval (for domestic distribution),” Liu Diyi, a student in Beijing, told Sixth Tone, referring to the strict vetting process. Though “Upcoming Summer” makes an effort to discuss homosexuality, some audiences say the hushed tone and the “symbolic presence” contradicts the purpose of making LGBT characters visible. Movies with LGBT themes are rarely made in China and regulatory restrictions on the portrayal of same-sex relationships have added more challenges for producers willing to bring these stories to life. But one of the protagonists has a past romance that remains elusive in the plot, with audiences guessing it’s a same-sex relationship. The coming-of-age drama “Upcoming Summer” tells the story of two high school students experiencing the perks and pitfalls of love while reappearing for the gaokao, China’s college entrance exams. Is one of the protagonists in the latest box-office hit gay? That’s what many Chinese moviegoers are trying to find out.
