a story of resistance
in a world full of control
synopsis
Breaking Walls tells the fact-based, personal story of journalist and activist Hoi Yi (name changed for safety reasons)as he battles the ever-growing global rise of censorship and surveillance. He speaks out publicly for democratic values but hides his queer identity for his family. The personal repression he faces is reflected in his commitment to the freedom of others.
The film centres on a powerful question: How does oppression shape our identity and inner world, and can it also become a force for change?
Breaking Walls is a poetic and thought-provoking reflection on resistance, identity, and the courage of the human spirit.
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Behind Hoi Yi’s public fight for freedom of expression lies a deeply personal conflict. As a gay man, he navigates between two realities: the relative freedom of his life in the Netherlands and the traditional expectations of his family in China.While he helps Iranian journalists bypass censorship, his own private life is slowly falling apart. His arranged marriage to Mei-Lan is coming to an end, and his partner Fred longs for the recognition Hoi feels unable to give. Once back in China, he is immediately confronted with repression, and by his family’s clear and persistent hope for a grandchild.
A confronting conversation with Mei-Lan, now pregnant by another queer man, forces Hoi to reflect on his own identity and choices. In search of connection, he explores the underground queer subcultures of China, where he unexpectedly finds space to redefine his own boundaries.
During the family’s New Year’s dinner, Hoi chooses to speak his truth.
The rejection that follows is painful and direct. Yet it becomes a turning point: at the Freedom Festival in Bangkok, Hoi delivers an emotional speech that unites his personal and political struggles. His words move the audience, and Fred, who watches quietly, overcome with emotion.
Breaking Walls shows how repression doesn’t just silence, it can also awaken a powerful drive for self-liberation and solidarity.
the characters
All the main characters in Breaking Walls struggle with repression, surveillance, and (self)censorship, each in their own way. These challenges shape their lives, their relationships, and their mental well-being in profound ways.
The characters and their backstories are inspired by extensive research into real individuals, giving them a strong sense of authenticity and depth.
The term antagonist here isn’t used in the conventional “villain” sense. Hoi’s mother, boyfriend Fred, and (ex)wife Mei-Lan are not enemies, but their own internalized norms and societal pressures clash with Hoi’s need for freedom, forcing painful compromises.
the protagonist
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Hoi has experienced repression since his youth. Growing up in China, his access to online information was restricted due to the "Great Firewall", China’s system of internet censorship. Despite these limitations, Hoi managed to leave China to study abroad, where access to information was less of an issue. Yet, new pressures soon emerged.Living in a different culture didn’t free him from the expectations of his family.
He faced growing pressure to marry and continue the family line, a reflection of traditional family expectations deeply rooted in Chinese society. This meant repressing his queer identity, hiding his true self from those closest to him.
This experience of personal repression may explain Hoi’s growing urge to advocate for those facing similar pressures, people whose lives are shaped by social, political, or cultural censorship.
the antagonists
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In Chinese society, where traditional values continue to shape social and family expectations, respecting and caring for one’s parents, is considered essential. For Hoi’s mother, being a grandparent isn’t just a personal wish; it’s tied to social status. In many communities, having grandchildren is seen as proof of a successful family. Without one, she faces questions and pity: “Why isn't your son married?” “Why don’t you have a grandchild?”Having lost her husband, she carries this burden alone. Her need for a grandchild, though understandable in her context, adds emotional pressure on Hoi, becoming part of the repression he faces.
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From the beginning, Hoi was open with Fred about his situation: the arranged marriage, the intention to have a child, the complexities of his identity. Fred accepted this, he supported Hoi’s decisions, despite the questions and judgment from his own social circle of family and friends.But loving someone who can’t be fully open about their relationship comes at a cost. Fred is unable to share or express this part of his life publicly. Like Hoi, he must practice self-censorship, hiding who he loves. Over time, this strain manifests as tension, testing their relationship.
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Hoi and Mei-Lan met at university and quickly became close friends. As only children, as a result of China’s one-child policy, they both faced strong family and social pressure to marry and have children. In an act of mutual support and survival, they entered into an arranged marriage, a pact of solidarity rather than romance.Their decision could be seen as an act of love, but one rooted in sacrifice: erasing their individuality to satisfy their family happiness and needs.
However, being married but living apart, Hoi in Amsterdam, Mei-Lan in China, raises questions. Her colleagues, friends, and family constantly asked: “Why are you living separately?” “Why no children?”
A turning point came when Mei-Lan realized that, despite all her compromises, society still saw her as incomplete. It was then that she began to question whether maintaining the arrangement was worth the price of her own sense of self.