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 ...
Tino and Chan meet on a bus and Tino flirts shamelessly with Chan and pretty soon they become a romantic pair, in a seemingly long distance relationship. Tino has lesbian mothers and one of them returns back home after many years having left the other mother. This triggers emotions in Tino who leaves the house and together with Chan they go on a holiday. This is when they try to get sexual and realize that they are both tops and sexual compatibility is going to be an issue. They try to make it work, till Tino suggest why not go for an occasional threesome but with rules and only together. They find Joaquin, a local potter who willingly agrees to the setup and things seem to be going well, until the said mother who left him shows up at this holiday also, triggering Tino to start drinking again. He is closed off and doesn't open up even to Chan. He gets drunk and starts hooking up with Joaquin alone, until Chan catches him. He confronts him on why he would not open up and try to make this relationship work, but Tino has some past traumas, which we don't hear much of. Joaquin doesn't want to have to do anything with this drama and is out. Chan goes back home leaving a sad Tino. The other mother also arrives and the two mothers give the emotional support to Tino. In a realistic end, Tino sees Chan waiting at the same bus stop where they had first met, their eyes meet, they acknowledge each other doing well and then go their separate ways.
It was actually refreshing to see that finally someone from Asia is trying to tackle the subject of sexual compatibility. We have so far seen so many fluffy BL romances where sexuality is fluid, but I have always believed that sexual compatibility is absolutely essential and can actually make or break a relationship. In this film , it is obvious how this adds to both Tino and Chan's frustration when they cannot satisfy each other. Its a real issue. Bringing in an occasional third can spice up things but will it fix the problem in long term is debatable. They’re all happy together as a threesome but soon, some complications set in, mostly emanating from Tino’s tortured personality. What holds the film together through all its emotional highs and lows is the fine acting of the three leads. The sexual scenes and there are three or four very very elaborately done. The story is a bit flawed where not much justification is given to Tino's character. Sure, he was from a broken family and his ex-boyfriend had cheated on him, but it doesn't justify a lot of actions. But the actor playing the role is really good. He is very aggressive in the love scenes, but also consistently convincing in portraying his tormented anguish. He is very credible in his scenes where he is alone, wallowing in his self-caused pain and suffering. Chan's character calls out for vulnerability and our heart goes out to him when Tino is being difficult. Joaquin completes the sexy seductive trio and even in the scenes where he reprimands Tino for being selfish, he stands out.
Overall a good attempt at tackling a subject which has not been dealt with much in Asian films and doing it with dignity. Only if the screenplay was a bit together. Also it was good to see actor letting go off their inhibitions for the elaborate sexual scenes but they went on forever. Better editing could bring the time down of this film to acceptable limit. (6/10)
Comments
I really liked it through most of it but I feel something is missing in the end. Can't figure what exactly. Maybe I would have wanted Tino to evolve thanks to Chan. On the contrary it's like nothing happened and his reconciliation with his mother came out of nowhere. Or maybe it's in losing Chan that Tino realizes he needs to make some efforts? Anyway Tino actor did a great job as a tortured character. The best thing is you feel for both of them. For Tino because his traumas are legitimate (I'll never understand a parent abandonning his child because her new boyfriend doesn't want him). And for Chan who tries his best.
Now like you said Golu AT LAST we have a (asian) movie dealing with sexual compatibility. Can't agree more with Tino and you, sex is crucial in a relationship!! (sex and food my friend, always sex and food lol). Which honestly feels weird they were in a 6 months long distance relationship and apparently never mentioned it... Additionaly to simple good/bad sex compatibility, I feel mentioning "roles" gays are willing to accept is rare, even in western movies, or more as a funny thing. Golu I'll let you the judge of that as you have see wayyy more than me ;) Or is it because everyone is versatile now? (what's the point in being gay if you can't enjoy both sides haha).
Else I liked the atmosphere too. And the sex scenes, of course :p
Back to the film, they could use a lot of improvement. The idea was nice but somehow the connect was missing. A lot of things could be changed. Hopefully more and more folks going forward will focus on a few more sexual scenes that would mean something concrete.
happy to. help . :wink: wink: