Girlfriend Boyfriend, also known as Gf*Bf, is a Taiwanese coming-of-age drama film released in 2012. It was written and directed by Yang Ya-che and produced by Wong Kar-wai. The film follows the lives of three best friends, Mabel, Liam, and Aaron, who grow up in Taiwan during the 1980s. The story is told in three different time periods, from 1985, 1997, and 2008.
In 1985, Mabel (Gwei Lun-mei), Liam (Joseph Chang), and Aaron (Rhydian Vaughan) attend the same school and are part of a political movement advocating for democracy in Taiwan. Mabel is the school's student council president and has a crush on Aaron, who is also involved in the political movement. Liam, on the other hand, is not interested in the movement and spends his time making art.
In 1997, the three friends have graduated from college and are pursuing their careers. Mabel works as a journalist, Liam as an artist, and Aaron is a successful lawyer. Mabel and Aaron are in a relationship, but Liam has harbored feelings for Mabel since childhood.
In 2008, the three friends are in their 30s and have faced various challenges in their personal and professional lives. Mabel and Aaron are no longer together, and Liam has become a successful businessman. The three of them reunite when they attend the funeral of one of their former classmates who died in a car accident. This reunion forces them to confront the unresolved issues in their friendship and their love triangle.
Girlfriend Boyfriend explores themes of friendship, love, and political activism. The film received critical acclaim for its candid portrayal of Taiwan's political history and the characters' development throughout the years. It has been compared to the coming-of-age classic Stand by Me and Wong Kar-wai's film Days of Being Wild.
