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...
Cavafy is the biography of one of the most prominent Greek poets, Constantine P. Cavafy. The film revolves around desires and senses of Cavafy in a way that Cavafy's sensualism dominates the film and his poetry gets little scope. Not that I am complaining because even with all this the film progresses at a snail's pace. This film is a classic case of a gay art film. You might like it or not like it. Cavafy is counting his remaining days and is in the hospital which will soon be his last day. He is visited by a young writer who wants his approval to publish a study on the poet's life. The poet begins a journey back in time, gradually remembering all the incidents and all the people that left their mark on his life. Alexandria, where he grew up and was raised and he also worked there his relationship with his mother, his trips to Constantinople, Athens and the awakening of his personal sensuality and hidden sexual preferences are once again being reminded to the aged and exhausted poet. He sees his past lovers, those who were the Gods of his poetry, those who were the objects of his dreams, his carnal desires and pleasures. He is lost in his frustration, his guilt and his grief caused by such turning points of his life as the death of his mother, the denial of his erotic propositions by potential lovers. Finally, for the last time he has visions of all the young and beautiful men he hymned in his poems. With these final erotic memoirs, Cavafy finally breathes his last.
Cavafy and his poetry were deeply influenced by his passions and his unutterable desires. These desires and the guilt inflicted upon the poet are the basis of this film. The film is heavily dominated by silence, thoughts and melancholy. Ot is dangerously slow in action and dialogues which can lead to some one like me go in a nap zone. So, definitely not a film to watch after lunch. Th ebiggest saving grace were all the hot Greek men that they showed in Cavafy's thoughts.
This is one of those films whose review will differ from person to person. For me it could have been more interesting. (3/10)
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