PROSTITUTES IN THE YEARS PAST – SHAU TAO (2001)

Set in Tang Dynasty China, a period known for its relatively open views on women, the story follows SHAU Tao, a respected and skilled courtesan. Despite the era's freedoms, men still hold power over women's lives. The celebrated poet YU Jen becomes captivated by SHAU Tao, but ultimately rejects marriage due to her social standing. Proud and independent, SHAU Tao chooses to remain unmarried rather than compromise her dignity. The film alternates between letters exchanged between SHAU Tao and YU Jen’s wife, hinting at a complex dynamic between the three of them and suggesting a subtle homoerotic undertone.