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 ...
Noe is a true folk artisan and is very popular and respected for his retablos. He is knows as Maestro for his skills but he doesn't lead an easy life. He sells his art in various cities and villages all over the region and traveling isin't easy since he lives in a mountainous region. His son Segundo is completely in awe of his father and wants to learn his skills and be like him. Noe is his idol. But on a trip to deliver a large piece of work, Segundo catches a glimpse of Noe in a sex act with a man. Shame hits him and suddenly he starts to distance himself from his parents leaving them wondering what has happened. One night Noe come back home very drunk and badly beaten. While his wife tries to nurse him back to health, the truth comes out that he was badly beaten because he was caught having sex with another man. The wife can't take the cheating and deceit and decides to leaves him. This is when Segundo stays back to take care of his ailing father. The film ends on a sombre note where Noe runs away leaving the audience to wonder what would become of Noe , Segundo and his wife, a loving family who till very recently was so much in love for each other.
The film never shows Noe's point of view. He gets drunk every-time he goes to city to sell but his interior world and thoughts are left to himself. Maybe because the society they live in is extremely homophobic. We see Segundo's point of view. A young 14 year old whose father was an idol for him, suddenly becomes a person whom he despises for days till Noe is almost of the brink of death. He is also homophobic but seeing his father this way possibly brings back the respect as an artisan that he had for him. But no one knows what will become of people in these regions if they want to be true to themselves. The social pressure is so much on an individual that even though he does get unconditional love, care and respect from his son, it will not be enough for Neo. Both the actors including the mother have done an incredible job at acting. I have to admit that even though I have visited Peru, but the village mountain life is very alien to me. This film does give a good glimpse and the mountain and greenery and scenery are simply beautiful, including the houses they live it. They are modest but pretty and happy and content. And did I say, how beautiful the retablos actually were that they show in the film. I feel like buying one right now.
The beautiful ending where Segundo makes a retablo to honor the memory of his father is very powerful. Yes, love, they say transcends all boundaries, but maybe not always. (7/10)
Comments
I recommend a Korean! BL series Where Your Eyes Linger, currently airing on Viki It’s only 8 episodes about 10 min each, but very well done.
Thx for recommendation on Korean series. I'll look out for it.