Roy is a Taoist priest but also a drag queen performer. He meets and falls for Sunny but when Sunny disappears without saying goodbye, Roy begins to suspect that something terrible has happened.
Direction
Zero Chou's delicate, water-like visual poetry.
Acting
James Chen's luminous, wounded duality as Roy/Rose.
Cinematography
Neon-drenched Taipei nights vs. ritualistic solemnity.

Director
Zero Chou
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
One of early 2000s Taiwanese New Queer Cinema's hidden gems, predating Chou's more famous Spider Lilies.
The title refers to 'splendid' floating lanterns released for the dead—Roy performs grief he cannot speak.