Honestly I can't believe we're still getting BL series this bad in 2026. This mini series runs about 7 to 8 episodes with a total runtime of just about an hour and it is so boring that I genuinely struggle to find the words. The actors are awkward, the story is as basic as it gets and there is almost nothing about this show worth saving. The makers do try to stir up some drama here and there but even that falls completely flat. Ho Won is a 23 year old university student who spots a man sitting alone at a gay bar and gets attracted to him. The man is Min U, a 33 year old who brushes Ho Won off immediately saying he's too young. Ho Won lies about his age and since he's made a bet with the bartender that he'll get this man home before the night is over, he switches tactics and eventually the two end up at Min U's place and sleep together. Despite being complete opposites in every way there's some kind of pull between them and they go on a couple of dates. But t...
The film is set in late 19th century in France. Son of a viscount and a Roma prostitute (both deceased), Serge is intelligent, sweet, talented, and alienated by his family due to his heritage. Upon being sent to his new school, he rooms with Gilbert, a gorgeous loner of a boy who sells his body for reasons unknown. He is ostracized by the school's pupils and professors for sleeping with most men in the school. We are never told the reason. His promiscuity is the result of a lifetime of neglect and abuse, as perpetrated chiefly by his ostensible uncle Auguste Beau. The man has physically, emotionally, and sexually abused Gilbert since he was a child. His manipulation of Gilbert is so significant that Gilbert believes that the two are in love. Despite threats of ostracism and violence, Serge perseveres in his attempts to bond with Gilbert, and the two eventually become friends and lovers. Gilbert is unable to escape the trauma of his past, and descends into a life of drug use and prostitution.
Honestly it was a little odd to watch an anime film not set in Japan. The insights and references to nineteenth century rural France add to its charm. The two main characters are realistic and it's nice to watch something different in the Boy's Love landscape. This story centres around how the young characters deal with their burgeoning sexualities, especially in regards homosexual desire and love in a society where love and sex between two men is considered taboo. The story also has a second major theme: that of dealing with the past. Either the version I saw, or maybe I am lacking context here, but the film seemed rushing from one scene to another. Gilbert comes out more as a slutty boy who just loves sex in an all boys school (imagine what would happen with such a boy today) and also its not really clear as to why Serge falls for him eventually. Anyway, the reason I saw the film was for pure nostalgia and curiosity how was a gay storyline handled back in 1987. I have to say it was no holding back when it came to sexual scenes. (3/10)
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