Both films show a father searching relentlessly for his missing son.

Both films tackle missing children and the desperate, long struggle their parents go through trying to find them.

It's not the main theme, but in both films there is a warden who hates and is sadistic towards a particular inmate.

-Peking Opera
-Male playing a female role in an opera is admired and celebrated for his beauty and talent

In both films a truck driver driving through a desert forms a unique bond with a young boy in his care.

-Male sex worker
-Host club
-Explicit sexual content
-Guy who is shy working as a prostitute at first but then finds a rhythm

Both films explore gay love that is set in a historical time period.

Both are Chinese language films that explore gay love set in a historical time period.

Both are Chinese language films that explore gay love set in a historical time period. They both also feature a modern day camera crew as a part of the plot (Mermaid's Jade to a much lesser degree).

-Starring Choi Chul Ho
-Guy obsessed with girl
-Murder

-LGBTQ+
-Japanese language film
-Explicit content
-Unlikely gay relationship develops

-LGBTQ+
-A man in a gay relationship is confused about what he wants i.e., if he wants to be with a man or a woman
-Japanese language film
-Complicated relationship