I've always had kind of a love hate relationship with Chinese historical BLs. Some are genuinely excellent, but then there are others that cram in so much plot that keeping track of all the layers of betrayal and scheming gets exhausting, and I end up checking out mentally. Part of the issue is also just how much content is out there in this space, so something really has to stand out to keep me hooked. In this case, the production value is genuinely impressive, top tier stuff, but story wise, I just couldn't bring myself to actually care about these characters. There's a ton of political scheming and backstage manipulation running throughout. Somewhere in the middle of all that chaos, a hostage ends up falling for his own Prince Charming. The show runs eight episodes, each around 50 to 60 minutes long. After spending three years guarding the border, Fifth Prince Yin Qi gets called back to the capital because of a secret letter, only to end up walking straight into a deadly...
This film is about Kenneth Williams, star of the Carry Ons and Round the Horne. Kenneth led a life full of mental torture as he tried to overcome his homosexuality in 1950s Britain, and also be one of the most popular people in Britain.
The film shows us a man Kenneth Williams, both appalled and aroused by his homosexuality; a man desperate for love who pushes away any advances that may bring him a moments fleeting happiness. He befriends playwright Joe Orton who is everything Williams wishes he was: virile, self-confident and relaxed with his sexuality. But it is Orton's partner and murderer, Kenneth Halliwell, with whom he shares the quietly desperate despair that characterises his life. Like the man himself this is very funny but also tragic. His only true friend throughout his life is his mother who stays forever with me in his good , bad, struggling and famous times.
To be very honest, the film was totally out of my league. For Britishers, who have witnessed real life of Kenneth might appreciate it but for a newbie like me, al of things happening in the movie were too much too handle. In fact after a while I started getting a headache. It did nothing for me.
If you know about Kenneth Williams, only then watch it otherwise completely avoid. (1.5/10)
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