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 ...
Pepijn, is a freelance writer and Sjors works in a corporate company. They have been in a relationship for seven-years and have been exploring the idea of traveling the world. Their plans hit a roadblock when Sjors invites student Cas, new to town to sleep on their sofa without asking Pepijn for a few days till he gets settled. Quickly Pepijn begins to obsess over Sjors relationship with Cas and it brings out insecurities in their relationship. But soon enough, Pepjin himself begins to fall for Cas’ charms. In the meantime, clearly there are communication challenges between the couple. Pepjin wants to travel but Sjors is not very sure. Also they want to ask their best friend to carry baby for them as a surrogate. In between all this. after a drunken night out, the three of them end up having sex which gets repeated a few times. The couple keeps checking with each other if they are ok, but something is off. They decide to end things with Cas and ask him to leave. The true test of their relationship begins now. Sjors is happy in a more settled life but this is not what Pepjin signed up for. He feels he misses the old adventurous Sjors, whom he met when he had just come back after traveling more than half the world. The duo decide to break up. Pepjin needs to expand his wing and follow his passion.
This film actually shows us a lot in a short running time. We see a long-term relationship where two people have become comfortable and forgotten how to voice their wants and needs. Cas’ arrival makes both men think about what they actually want and they’re excited by having a hot, young boy living with them. The whole dynamics between the duo change rapidly. First Pepjin thinks that Sjors is cheating on him with Cas but as he gets to know Cas better, he finds himself attracted to him. There are some nice sexual tension between Cas and both individuals. And it's stuff like that, in my mind, which makes this film very real and relatable. From acting perspective, its Pepjin that overshines completely. he goes through a range of emotions in t his film and does an amazing job of putting them across. That doesn't take away from the fact that the other 2 actors are equally good. Thankfully the film doesn't make Cas to be the bad guy. At no point is he trying to seduce any of the guys, but he is young, so he is not going to refuse advances made by them. The film could ave avoided the whole surrogacy angle would be my constructive feedback.
A fascinating look at a long-term relationship where communication starts to become a challenge. Their situation changes drastically but they have both grown up as individuals during this time. Not many films show thing so up, close and personal. (7.5/10)
Comments