Queer Interest
This intimate self-portrait documentary is a must-see for its heartfelt exploration of queer identity within a traditional Vietnamese family. The film follows Quang, a gay man, as he navigates his relationship with his American partner, his life in the gay clubs of Hanoi, and the journey of coming out to his family.
In a candid moment with her gay son Quang, Cuc says, “Our family is cursed because out of my two children, one is gay and the other is coocoo.” When his neurodivergent sister Mai, who is nine years his senior, becomes pregnant, he decides to film his family. Quang’s free-spirited life in Hanoi, Vietnam, clashes with the more traditional way of life in Lào Cai province. His family knows nothing about his American partner or the wild outfits he wears in the gay clubs of Hanoi.
As a teenager, the gentle-natured Quang understood nothing of his older sister’s unpredictable behavior. She, in turn, felt abandoned by the rest of the family. The grip of mutual disappointment gradually loosens, however, partly thanks to the arrival of baby Guava. Quang and his sister finally find the courage to talk about how they felt in the past. He tells his parents about his boyfriend, and Cuc even accompanies him to a queer event. Two worlds finally seem to be drawing closer together in this portrait of a damaged Vietnamese family whose love endures despite everything.
Please note: This film contains content on potentially sensitive topics.
This film is part of the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) 2026, one of the world's leading documentary film festivals.
Tickets are available via the official IDFA website.