Fresh out of prison, the young Taiwanese gangster Pua is drawn back into the underworld, compelled not only by financial necessity, but also by the desire to reconnect with the person he longs for, his former cellmate Mi-ji. Pua navigates the criminal margins of society, full of anticipation for his long-awaited reunion with Mi-ji, only to find it falling short of his expectations. Amidst the complexities of underworld relationships, both Pua and Mi-Ji find themselves grappling with difficult choices. Director Chu Ping takes what could be melodramatic subject matter – a gay gangster – and fashions an artfully shot, exquisitely textured drama that explores different facets of masculine identity. Subtly performed, Silent Sparks offers a cultural exploration of marginal lifestyles and codes of criminal behaviour, but is fundamentally a tragicomedy about Pua’s confused persistence in seeking love.