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Tropical Fish

Name: Tropical Fish
Director: Chen Yu-hsun
Released: 1995
Duration: 108 min

Representation Score

9.1/10

Excellent

1995

Director

Chen Yu-hsun

Runtime

108 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Tropical Fish is a key work of Taiwanese New Wave cinema that dismantles conventional social structures through intimate, character-focused storytelling. It stands out by centering underrepresented identities, especially queer youth, while rejecting standard social hierarchies. The film's strength lies in its refusal to cater to Anglo-centric narratives, instead offering a rich, local perspective. By focusing on the inner lives of its characters, it validates non-traditional experiences with a realistic portrayal of identity and desire.

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Category Breakdown

Does Tropical Fish have LGBTQ+ representation?

Excellent

The film focuses on male-male attraction and adolescent longing, placing same-sex intimacy and emotional vulnerability at the heart of the story.

How does Tropical Fish portray gender?

Good

It challenges traditional masculine stereotypes by emphasizing the emotional depth of its male characters, showing their fragility and sensitivity.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Tropical Fish?

Excellent

The movie provides a genuine look at the specific cultural life of a coastal Taiwanese community, avoiding Western stereotypes.

How does Tropical Fish represent religion and culture?

Good

The story centers on individual identity and personal growth, using moral relativism to highlight the subjective truths of its characters.

Does Tropical Fish include disability representation?

Fair

There is no significant focus on visible or invisible disabilities within the narrative. No specific characters are identified as having disabilities, leaving this category neutral.

Present on Screen

Focusing on queer identity and same-sex intimacy as central themes rather than side stories.
Challenging traditional masculine stereotypes by highlighting the emotional depth of male characters.
Offering a genuine, non-Western perspective that avoids Western stereotypes.

Limited or Absent

The film does not include any characters with disabilities.

Official Synopsis

When a daydreaming Taipei teenager tries to save a kidnapped boy, he ends up being kidnapped himself and transported to the Taiwanese countryside. There, among an eccentric family of criminals, he embarks on an unexpected journey that is by turns hilarious, surreal, and deeply humane.

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