Skip to main content

Soul Mate (Japanese Series)

By Golu
Is this technically a gay show? Even after getting through the whole thing, that's still kind of tricky to answer. There's never any physical intimacy shown between the two leads, not even a single kiss. What it gives you instead is something that goes way deeper than that. It traces an emotional bond that spans a full decade between two guys who are both dealing with their own baggage, and what they share basically amounts to being soulmates. The story moves across Japan, South Korea, and Berlin. Honestly, whether people want to call what they have a romantic relationship or not doesn't really matter to me. A relationship doesn't need a label like boyfriends attached to it to actually mean something. And closeness doesn't need to be physical to feel genuine. What this show captures is something quieter but way more powerful, a bond rooted in understanding, respect, and just showing up for each other. Across eight episodes, each running 35 to 45 minutes, this is one...
Post a Comment

Common Ground

By Golu
This movie spans across almost 50 decades of life in a small town in Homer, Connecticut. Actually the film could easily have been 3 major episodes, which are not really related to each other except the location but yet all share the common ground. They fall in the category of queer (lesbian or gay, in this specific case). I wonder when this was shown on TV, whether it was shown as one long film or as three different episodes.

The film is narrated through the eyes of a character, whose job is to raise the town's flag every day. In 1954, when he is 6 year old, he witnesses the arrival of Dorothy from navy, one of the first woman veteran in town. When she is out looking for job, rumor soon spreads out that she was dismissed by the army on charges of sexual deviance. There is only one woman in the town who comes out to support her and even listen to her version of the story. Dorothy is confused about her sexuality and while her visits to a gay bar with one of her gay friends from navy, she gets caught. The lady who supports her helps and advices her to go to New York to discover herself. In the second segment, the time period os 1974 but setting is the same. A young 18 year old teenager is being bullied and harassed in school for suspects of being gay. His only support is his teacher who is in contender for being the school principal. The kid that the teacher is gay but the teacher doesn't have the balls to come out. When he finally witnesses how badly the other students have treated the kid, his patience breaks barrier and he finally comes out as well and reports the matter to the school authorities and the police. The segment ends with the teacher fighting against discrimination for his job but he is a happy man now. The final segment is et in 2000 when the gay marriage has become legal. A gay couple who has been together for 15 years decide to get married but the focus of the film is on one the grooms who is having wedding jitters and his father, a former veteran, who is part of the group who is in town to protest the wedding. The whole section focusses on their discussion of being gay, whats right and whats wrong, about marriage and everything. and magically both father and son are finally ok with going through the wedding where the son gives an emotional speech on how their predecessors have probably had a rough time before them and they need to set an example for their future generations.

The first segment is definitely the best of all three. It is more streamlined, very novel idea and has been executed and acted very well. The girl who plays Dorothy does a great job of displaying a touching range of emotions from wonder and excitement when she first visits a gay bar, to sadness and shame as the town folks make it clear she is no longer welcome in their midst. The second segment is also interesting with good performances both from the student and the teacher. I know bullying even today isa big issue in the gay community and teenage school going kids so this was a good way of showing stuff that is necessary. The final segment unfortunately is a little boring. The whole father - son shpeel, the stereotypical gay jokes and lesbian stereotypes, it was all a little too much. Also I am not sure if I believe that way back in 2000, a small town would still be liberal enough for a gay wedding to happen in town hall. I hope I am wrong.

Despite all this, the film is a noble, well-intentioned and worthwhile effort. (6/10)
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Tuxedo (Thai Series)

By Golu
When I saw this series with 8 episodes of about 20-25 minutes each, I thought, good: Finally someone has come to senses and made a show which is not stretched out and they have tried to squeeze in a decent storyline in a good small episode format. But unfortunately, despite a decent premise on hand, the clunky writing, bad screenplay and an extreme tasteless portrayal of mental illness makes this show, not a fun watch. By the time it finishes, you just want to laugh off at the entire absurdity of it all. Aioun is talented tuxedo designer and very much in demand but he has handful of clients and he builds suits only for people who he feels a connection to. One night when his younger brother is about to get mugged, he is helped by a total stranger named Sichol. Since he tears his suit in the fight and has an interview the next day, Aioun gifts him a suit form his design as an expression of thanks. Sichol's interview is for. Personal assistant of a man named Nawee, a wealthy heir to h...
25 comments
Read more

Heartstopper: Season 2 (Web Series) (UK)

By Golu
Heartstopper Season 1 was a universal hit. You could not have read one bad review or heard from anyone who has seen the show not liking it. It was the kind of series that is easy to love, with sweetness exploding out of every scene without overwhelming you. So naturally, when Netflix greenly Season 2, expectations were naturally high and the same happened with me. I didn't know what to expect, but I had high expectations of this very very sweet teenage love story. And with eagerness and being a little late to the game by a few days, here I am, pouring my t thoughts down having just finished one of the most anticipated shows of the year. The second season also has 10 episodes and has all of our loved ones from the original season. The show continues from where it had left off in Season 1. Charlie and Nick are a couple and only their very close circle of friends know about it. This includes Charlie's best friend Tao and his trans best friend Elle. The center of the show is still ...
19 comments
Read more

Gaya Sa Pelikula (Filipino Series) [Like In The Movies]

By Golu
Pinoy BL series seem to be catching up to the popularity of the Thai shows. And I must say that they are doing a pretty good job at it. Where Thai series started to get repetitive with so many shows based in a college setting with seemingly similar storylines, Pinoy series are offering the viewers with new and interesting stories and some really good sets and surroundings. This series was 8 episodes of about 25-20 minutes each. Karl, a 19-year old introvert architecture student is in the middle of an identity crisis. Prior to the start of the second semester in college and forced by his parents, he moves into his uncle's condominium unit so that he can learn to be financially independent. Karl takes on odd jobs online to do so. But when one of his major clients suddenly goes MIA, he is left short on funds and without a means to pay for his utilities. An opportunity presents itself when his cocky neighbor Vlad has to hide from his family and proposes to share Karl's space for th...
23 comments
Read more