This is the second vertical AI BL drama I've sat through, and honestly I went in knowing better. I had it on while I was doing cardio at the gym, and what struck me was just how much the plot echoed the last one I watched. Same step brother romance angle, same mystery girlfriend showing up near the end, same extra guy pining after one of the leads. Genuinely the only thing going for it was the runtime, the whole thing wrapped up in forty five minutes flat. The setup kicks off with Finn moving schools because his mom just married into money. He finds out his new step brother Aiden goes to the same place, and he's warned to keep his distance from him. Their first run in at school is rocky, just like you'd expect, but there's this odd pull between them neither can shake off. Finn keeps telling himself not to read into it because Aiden's straight and openly homophobic. Things shift when some kids start bullying Finn and the student council president, Ryan, steps in to ...
Shane has just graduated from high school and is looking forward to college in Toronto. BUt his plans go for a toss when his sister commits suicide. The mother almost takes to bed in grief, loses her job and the entire family is falling apart. Its fully onto Shane to support them both and find money for repairs. Not only there are lack of financial opportunities but it turns out that he is gay and there is no way that his traditional community will understand and accept it. David, his boyfriend, is also in closet and is unsure about leaving the town to go to Toronto with Shane. To keep up the appearances, Shane has a girlfriend Tara, who is more than happy to go with him. We see how youngsters in this town are struggling. David and Shane fight and come back together often. One such night Tara sees them kissing and is shocked. In a drunken state, she tells that to one other guy who eventually rapes her. Ashamed she also commits suicide. Somehow Shane's mother pushes herself to snap out of her grief when police comes looking for Shane as a suspect. She, together with David's grandmother, decide they will do what's best for the two boys and do everything in their power to make Shane go to college.
David and Shane as a couple were interesting. It was hard to say whether they loved each other or were they in love. I mean, given neither of them knew anyone gay in town, its easier to find comfort in each other. Surely, they cared; but family responsibilities prevent them from thinking about themselves. And this has probably to do with their culture where you just dont abandon family. The film moves at a slow-ish pace but the acting by all principal actors is amazing. Shane is amazing and he looks good too. Portraying the gut-wrenching desperation of what life must be like in a depressed community with no jobs and no hope for betterment is not an easy job to take and do justice to it without being biased. I commend the makers to choose a difficult subject. That said, the film is a bit dark, there is no light moments or even hope for a better future (well, there is; but not really).
I have a feeling this film may not be for everyone. Showing compassion and despair in the aboriginal community in Canada, the film somehow resonated with me at least at some level. It's a sensitive portrayal of people at cross roads with respect to family, ambitions, love, responsibilities and there is no easy option or result irrespective of what they choose. (6/10)
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