This one's a beautiful, tender, quiet romantic drama with a moody atmosphere, set in a tight knit Welsh fishing community. It's a touching story about a man waking up sexually in the middle of his life, and how he, his family, and everyone around him deal with it, which makes it emotional and sentimental without ever getting over the top. The slow burn plays out against a landscape that's as bleak as it is gorgeous, where quiet, closed off men are stuck inside rigid ideas of what masculinity should be. Some people might be reminded of "God's Own Country," but I think both films are lovely in their own way. Jack is a middle aged guy who co-owns a mussel farm with his rough around the edges brother Dyfan, and the tension between the two of them is simmering under the surface right from the start. Dyfan's three sons all help out with the work, while Jack's sulky teenage son Tom keeps skipping out. Jack's been with his wife since they were both 16, and...
When old man Walter dies, Birch starts taking care of his home and his leather work in Catskills. Birch is a well-built, handsome bearded mountain man who very much lives off the woods and who specializes in crafting things like leather sandals. Few weeks after his father dies, his son Andy comes down to the summer home with his city queen boyfriend Kyle. Apparently the father-son had a falling out 10 years back when Andy came out and since then they had not been on speaking terms. Birch and Andy were childhood friends who lost touch over the years. Andy still cannot fathom the fact of why would his father let Birch stay at his home and that he was not a good father but Birch continues to champion Walter as a changed person and a good man. While the conflict is on, Kyle is struggling with his career and his job loss and feels that Andy doesn't support him enough. The friends spend time together, despite a major fight between the two and end of spending a night together in the woods ending with them having sex, despite Birch being straight. Clearly they both have feelings for each other and Birch doesn't like labels. Kyle realizes this and decides to go back to the city to figure out his future. Andy stays back in the name of sorting out stuff for his father, but hoping something more concrete will happen between him and Birch.
Unfortunately, we don't know what Birch truly feels for Andy. But Andy clearly loves Birch. I feel that Birch is just going along with the situation. He doesn't even identify as either gay or straight or bisexual. So its hard to say but the two men have amazing chemistry between them. The fact that they both are gorgeous helps a lot. Kyle's character on the other hand is nothing but annoying. Every single scene that he is in, I feel like slapping him. I wonder why Andy is with him. Having said this, the film is not without its share of flaws. Th film is very very slow and is filled with scenes that add nothing to the story. The whole scene of Kyle getting drunk and pouring his heart out about his job is along scene and could have completely been avoided. I wish there was more tension between Birch and Andy. But the way they both get physical was handled with sensitivity. I did like that quite a bit. You feel the tenderness and closeness between the men as if its the most natural thing and this is where the film scores. The ending however is predictable and writing could have been much much better.
The film was just average. Nothing to get excited about, but it won't bore you. Despite the flaws, there was something charming about the film and I attribute mostly to the two good looking actors. (5/10)
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