The latest film from writer-director Arvin Chen is a thought-provoking charmer called Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? His tale of an introverted optometrist in Taiwan asks such questions as “Can life (and romance) stay as happy as depicted in a wedding portrait?” and “when does self-sacrifice become martyrdom to another person’s happiness?”
The movie explores themes of love and loyalty vs. staying true to yourself, as the optometrist, named Weichung, begins to question his marriage to his wife, Feng.
At his sister’s engagement reception, Weichung runs into Stephen, an old friend and the ceremony’s photographer, who is living like a single gay man half his age. Stephen, too, married out of social expectation, but his wife is a lesbian (“We’re into role-reversal,” he says, laughing, at one point).
Later, Stephen invites Weichung to get together and catch up with all their old friends from his decidedly “gayer” pre-married days. These include Ming, Simon and Ray-Ray, who call themselves “the sisters.” (“Don’t worry — we won’t blow your cover,” Stephen tells Weichung with a wink.) This encounter and Stephen’s teasing about Weichung’s supposedly straight lifestyle awaken long-repressed feelings — particularly after Weichung meets Thomas, an attractive young flight attendant who walks into his shop one day. Instantly, their attraction is mutual, which sets our hero off on a quest for true romance and fulfilling desire.
Played by Richie Jen, Weichung is an uncomplicated, thoroughly identifiable man, seemingly with both feet on the ground. His sister Mandy (Kimi Hsia), however, is another story.
About to get married to the eternally patient, frequently put-upon “San-San,” she lives her confused life dominated by soap-opera-inspired fantasies of the perfect (if melodrama-tinged) relationship with the perfect soap-hunk lover. Mind you, San-San’s not bad, boring, or homely. Let’s just say he isn’t exactly an “alpha male.” Mandy’s starry-eyed attitude about love doesn’t help his cause.
Both siblings are at a turning point in their relationships, but Weichung faces his truth head-on, while Mandy avoids hers (with plenty of help from TV and ramen noodles).
In due course, Feng comes to suspect something isn’t right with her husband and even consults a fortune teller about her concerns. She finally confronts Weichung, and he tells her the truth: “I thought I could change,” he confesses, “but what I didn’t realize is I was lying to myself.”
This scene is emotionally genuine, well-played and poignant. During filming, it brought the crew to tears.
“For me, the triumph in this movie is the acting,” Chen said, “especially Mavis Fan’s performance as the wife, Feng — even as the director, I was moved by the character she created.”
According to the young filmmaker, the idea for this, his second feature film, came to him almost by chance after a conversation he had with a gay friend. Though almost 40, this man exclusively dated men in their 20s. When Chen asked why, he was told that in Asia, there were few “out” men available in his friend’s own age group — most being married to women, with families.
“For Asia, Taiwan is relatively more tolerant towards homosexuality,” Chen said, “and I couldn’t really understand why some men would choose to live a façade and forgo their own happiness for the sake of others’ approval, so I started to think how I could develop this premise into a story.”
He found that it wasn’t easy. “Making it … funny but also hopefully a bit more resonant by the end was my greatest challenge here, but I’m always inspired by the process. …how an idea turns into something that’s created by over 100 people, and how that ‘something’ can be seen by so many people,” he said, smiling.
To many Eastern cultures, the perception of being gay still boils down to cross-dressing or overly flamboyant caricatures. Chen introduces a refreshing authenticity to those he’s depicting here.
“Though I’m not gay myself, I did grow up around a few gay friends in the San Francisco Bay area,” explains Chen, who grew up in the United States. “So of course I find Taiwan and Asia to be a bit more conservative in general when it comes to LGBT rights and the perception in the culture — primarily with the older generation, who are less educated about being gay and are often in denial when it comes to their gay children. But overall, I think homosexuality is pretty open and accepted among young people in metropolitan Taipei, where the movie is set.”
Viewers in the West are likely to undergo a bit of culture shock, particularly now that the idea of marrying purely out of social expectation seems somewhat surreal. Yet, in one hilarious sequence, director Chen turns this traditional view around as “the sisters” actually aid the dumped San-San in his attempts to win Mandy back. (“Be a man about it!” Stephen tells his apprehensive new pal.)
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? transcends matters of sexuality and culture. It cuts to the heart of relationships and the inevitable insecurities that each one brings.
The film is in Mandarin with English subtitles; the one English-speaking sequence involves Feng celebrating her new promotion at a karaoke bar and singing the title song, which perfectly hits upon the basic dilemma of any relationship. No matter how much you think you’ve got things figured out, “perhaps” as Feng tells Mandy, “in life, thinking things through clearly doesn’t guarantee they will work out.”
Will Weichung find happiness with Thomas — and can, in the end, life truly turn out to be as happy as that matrimonial snapshot? Ultimately that’s for audience members to resolve for themselves.
“One of the things that has been the most inspiring to me is that I’ve seen the movie with both gay and straight audiences, in Asia and the West,” Chen said, “and the places where people laugh or feel bad for the characters are usually the same.”
In October, the film was given the first-ever LGBT Award at the Chicago International Film Festival, adding to the accolades it has received at other festivals. Distributed by Film Movement, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? makes its way into wider markets, including Kansas City, throughout January. For more info, go to www.filmmovement.com .
WhistlePig and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Wind Tunnel-Trialed Whiskey Is a Ryed You Don’t Want to Miss
SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.
The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.
Like Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s signature C43 racing vehicles, trial barrels were tested in the team’s wind tunnel in Switzerland before hitting the track. Select barrels then endured varying levels of G-Forces at the WhistlePig farm and distillery for the finishing touch, accelerating the interaction between the whiskey and the wood, staying true to the physical nature of Formula 1.
“Partnering with WhistlePig has been a very exciting experience. Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake is dedicated to being the best on the track, and the crew at WhistlePig is fearless in their pursuit to create the best whiskey out there,” said Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver. “We’re really looking forward to fans tasting our custom Rye Whiskey and raising a glass to the rookies, veterans, legends and the exhilarating sport of F1.”
"Joining forces with WhistlePig to release a Single Barrel Rye Whiskey that represents my culture and team has been an honor,” said Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver. “Formula 1 brings together fearless, thrill-seeking motorsports professionals, and WhistlePig has a shared passion for boundary-pushing innovation. Together, we’ve selected something alarmingly good for fans to enjoy this season when the cars are not on track.”
The Limited Edition Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel will be available for purchase online starting around September 13 for $49.99 MSRP per 750ml bottle and sold in select stores across the U.S. Consumers can win VIP merchandise by scanning the QR code on the back of each bottle.
"We're taking our third Legends Series release on a ryed like never before,” said Meghan Ireland, WhistlePig Head Blender. "Our experiments with dynamic aging went full throttle during finishing trials at the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake wind tunnel, in turn inspiring new ways to expose barrels to G-forces back at the WhistlePig Farm. The herbal and floral notes of the lychee and tea barrel selected with the team create a new, podium-topping experience for PiggyBack Rye."
Fans and collectors have followed WhistlePig PiggyBack Legends Series, celebrating those who give 100% in the name of greatness, since its launch in March 2022 with Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, David Ortiz (“Big Papi”), followed by Country Music Duo Brothers Osborne in November 2022.
To learn more about WhistlePig Whiskey, visit whistlepigwhiskey.com. You can also check out WhistlePig Whiskey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About WhistlePig Whiskey
Located off the grid on a 500-acre Vermont farm, WhistlePig Whiskey is crafted by a new generation of whiskey distillers and blenders driven to reinvent and unlock the flavor of Rye whiskey. Through their rebellious pursuit of experimenting and pushing boundaries in the industry, WhistlePig has become the leading independent craft whiskey brand for innovation. WhistlePig is committed to becoming the best whiskey on and for the planet, starting with its locally sourced ingredients and sustainable supply chain and distilling process. For more information, head to whistlepigwhiskey.com.
When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.
I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.
If you don’t have a primary care physician who specializes in LGBTQ+ care in your community, you may need to educate yourself (and your provider). But, before you seek such therapy, here are five things you should know!
- Monitor closely. At Spectrum Medical Care Center, we screen patients for certain risks before starting anyone on hormones. We frequently monitor patients in the first year to ensure there are no adverse reactions and lab results are within safe ranges. Follow-up care is also important to assess your comfort with the transition as well as the social impact and social support you’re experiencing.
- Some changes are permanent, some temporary. For transmasculine individuals going on testosterone, they’ll experience these permanent changes: deepened voice, clitoral enlargement (also known as bottom growth), more body, facial hair, and male pattern baldness. Reversible changes include cessation of menses, increased muscle mass and strength, body fat redistribution, and skin oiliness or acne. For those going on estrogen therapy, the most permanent change is breast growth. Feminizing hormone therapy can also cause atrophy (shrinkage) of the genitals and loss of erectile function that may not be reversible. Estrogen will thin body hair, soften the skin, can increase scalp hair, and decrease muscle mass and strength, all of which are reversible.
- You can’t pick and choose results. Unfortunately, you can’t pick and choose the physical changes you want, which may feel challenging. Some of my patients will say, ‘Okay, ‘I’ve seen the permanent changes I want, and I don’t want it to go any further,’ and so at that point, we stop therapy. Low-dose hormone therapy can slow down the rate of changes, allowing for a more gradual physical transition. We counsel patients in advance about the common changes, and it’s up to the individual as to when they’d like to scale back and determine whether some benefits are worth the potential risks.
- Be aware of risks. Like any medical treatment, there are potential risks involved. Some risks with testosterone therapy include increased red blood cell mass, acne, hypertension, sleep apnea, weight gain, and dyslipidemia (increases the chance of clogged arteries). Cardiovascular disease is likely increased with additional risk factors for testosterone and estrogen therapy. Transfeminine patients going on estrogen therapy may experience weight gain, thromboembolic disease (when a blood clot breaks off and blocks another blood vessel), and a high level of triglycerides in the blood.
Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!
Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.
"Our entire team is honored to be named Best of the Best. To be the only gay men's resort recognized in the Top 1% is incredibly humbling," said Kent Taylor, General Manager at Descanso. "We appreciate Tripadvisor and we're grateful to all our guests who gave us such high marks and reviews to help us reach this achievement."
“Ranking among the Best of the Best demonstrates that you have provided exemplary experiences to those who maZer most: your guests,” said John Boris, Chief Growth Officer at Tripadvisor. “With changing expectations, continued labor shortages, and rising costs, this is no easy feat, and I am con6nually impressed with the hospitality industry’s resilience and ability to adapt.”
Santiago Resort was once again honored by Tripadvisor with a 2023 Travelers’ Choice award, placing it among the top 10% of travelers’ top reviewed des6na6ons. Twin Palms will become eligible for ranking in 2024.
Check out all the reviews, and discover more about Descanso Resort on Tripadvisor here. We have an excellent library of resort imagery available to accompany editorial and additional resources on our press page. Please contact Descanso Resort’s General Manager, Kent Taylor, at kent@descansoresort.com for further information.
About Descanso Resort
Inspired by Palm Springs’ history as a des6na6on for Hollywood stars to unwind in privacy, Descanso offers guests a casual yet modern take on the legendary style of that 6me. Created by the same hospitality team that revitalized Palm Springs’ much-loved San6ago Resort and recently launched the all-new Twin Palms Resort, the Descanso property opened in 2022 featuring 15 spacious guest rooms with custom-designed furniture, dreamy King-size beds, and luxe details. Ameni6es include continental breakfast, poolside lunch, welcome snack basket, and lots of special touches. For guests who need to stay connected, the entire property is equipped with blazing-fast Wi-Fi. Mul6-speed bikes are available for exploring the surrounding midcentury neighborhoods and public art installations. Like the Hollywood stars before them, guests at Descanso are encouraged to unwind, relax, and rest in style.
About Tripadvisor
Travelers across the globe use the Tripadvisor site and app to discover where to stay, what to do and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than 1 billion reviews and opinions of nearly 8 million businesses, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants and discover great places nearby.