22nd New York Asian Film Festival

Jul 14-30, 2023

Photo: © Viva Communications

North American Premiere

I Love You, Beksman

Mahal Kita, Beksman

Fashionably androgynous Dali is the premier glamour guru in his family’s super-gay salon. Naturally everyone assumes he’s on the same team, but when a clumsy mishap with gorgeous beauty pageant contestant Angel leads him to save her day, the truth finally comes out: He’s a straight guy with a queer eye! As Dali falls head over heels in love with Angel he must overcome a multitude of obstacles on the path to true romance. This brilliant conceit riffs buoyantly on Romeo and Juliet for a modern day fairytale in flamboyant attire. Wearing campy corniness on its self-aware pop-art sleeve, no stone is left unturned. Identity, machismo, feminism, femininity, stigma, social conditioning, discrimination, inclusion, prejudice, acceptance, sexuality, gender — are all taken to task with gay abandon. Christian Bables (Big Night!, NYAFF 2022) and the entire cast bring this whole affair home with pitch perfect fabulousness.

Director: Percival Intalan
Cast: Christian Bables, Iana Bernardez, Keempee de Leon
Languages: Filipino with English Subtitles
2022; 107 min.

SCHEDULE:

Saturday July 22, 4:30pm
Film at Lincoln Center