I've always had kind of a love hate relationship with Chinese historical BLs. Some are genuinely excellent, but then there are others that cram in so much plot that keeping track of all the layers of betrayal and scheming gets exhausting, and I end up checking out mentally. Part of the issue is also just how much content is out there in this space, so something really has to stand out to keep me hooked. In this case, the production value is genuinely impressive, top tier stuff, but story wise, I just couldn't bring myself to actually care about these characters. There's a ton of political scheming and backstage manipulation running throughout. Somewhere in the middle of all that chaos, a hostage ends up falling for his own Prince Charming. The show runs eight episodes, each around 50 to 60 minutes long. After spending three years guarding the border, Fifth Prince Yin Qi gets called back to the capital because of a secret letter, only to end up walking straight into a deadly...
This is a french film based in Canada. French films from France usually have a very different aura about them. This one, I don't know so much actually. It was nice and interesting with a very common thing about a love triangle but at some places the direction was very different and how the triangle affects the relationships is also shown very well.Francis and Marie are very good friends. They meet Nicholas at a party. Nicholas is this greek god kinda guy who has blond curls, perfect charming face which everyone would die to be with him. Although neither would agree, but both of them are instantly very very attracted to Nicholas. He is very very friendly with both of them and they start hanging out. Marie and Francis are both falling head over heels in love with Nicholas to the extent that it starts to hurt. Specially when neither of them can tell whether he loves either one or both or none. They once come up with an idea of spending some time in Europe. Things get bad when Marie can't just handle closeness between Francis and Nicholas and wants to leave. This leads to a fight between Francis and Marie and Nicholas has had enough. They all leave. Francis and Marie try to get in constant touch with Nicholas but he now doesn't want to get into any mess. They both are extremely hurt. A year passes by and finally they are getting over Nicholas and their strained friendship is coming back to normal. But some people never learn. The film ends when a good looking guy winks at both of them standing together and they both now start following this new guy. SOme people never change.
The film is also a meditation on the senselessness of love and why its own madness is what makes it so appealing. The film also includes a roundtable of characters not related to the main story discussing relationships. At first, you want to pay attention to see maybe the characters are somehow related to the film but it doesn't happen, so by the time third segment comes, it becomes boring. The film is shot on a very stylized fashion where scenes are in slow motion, a lot is left on the viewers mind to imagine and interpret because real emotions are not shown until the end of the film. Even Marie's and Francis' friendship looks more like strictly acquaintances. The film has this song that continuously keeps playing which is good but every time the same song. Acting was ok though Marie seemed a little out of it but I guess her character was like that.
It is an alrite film. I get it that its for people who have been in love and all that but some things can be told very straight, why unnecessarily complicate it. (4/10)
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