Skip to main content

Tell The World I Love You (Thai)

By Golu
This Thai film is going for that crime and romance mix inside the BL space, trying to blend coming of age struggles with gritty gang violence thrown in. Honestly, this movie really didn't need to exist. It grabs actors straight out of BL shows that you'll recognize instantly, then tries to drop them into this gritty setting with a story that just doesn't land. Even if there was some kind of heart buried in here somewhere, the way it's actually put together feels pretty amateur. Kheng comes from a rough background and has his heart set on studying in China, so he's grinding hard trying to land a scholarship. We don't get much of his backstory, but he's living with his friend Tai, who I'm pretty sure has feelings for him too, and Tai backs him up in every way he can. One day Kheng witnesses a group of thugs beating up a guy named Boang, who turns out to be a drug dealer, though Kheng has no clue about that at the time. He ends up saving Boang's life an...
Post a Comment

The Truth About Alex (Canada)

By Golu
I can't believe this made for TV movie came way back in 1986. The movie, just under an hour, seems to be way ahead of its time and is definitely as much relevant in today's time as it was back then. This movie needs to be seen by more and more people, because this focuses on a facet of a gay man ad his friend; that not many movies have touched upon without making it weird. It offers poignant perspectives on friendship and personal honesty.

Alex and Bradley are best friends, both on the football team and make a great pair. Brad has a girlfriend and always wonders why Alex doesn't come out to party. Alex loves piano and constantly practices for his recital so that he can go to college. This is something he cannot compromise with. One day at the rest stop of a gas station, he gets beaten up by a truck driver for refusing his advances. To his horror, the driver accuses Alex of trying to make a pass at him. News soon spread about this. When Brad finds out, he wants to fix things but is shocked to hear that the reason Alex didn't contest that was because he is actually gay. Brad is shocked and leaves and comes back around the very next day, like a true friend. The rest of the movie is less about Alex holding up to being gay or his struggles, but is more about how Brad stays true to his friend, to his friendship, face all odds, even go against his militarian and disciplinarian father and always be there for his friend; even if that means that he risk football and scholarship from his school.

Like I said before, the context is very relevant even in today's time. Every Alex needs a friend like Brad who do not go 180 degree on their friend just because they are gay. The last scene when Brad shows up for Alex's recital after going against his dad was awesome. Even before that, the way he stands up to his football coach to make sure no injustice is done to Alex is praiseworthy. I liked the fact that no unnecessary drama was introduced in the film just for the sake of it. If this film was made today, the makers would probably wanna throw in a romantic angle between the leads and thank god for this being absent in this film. It was also good to see Alex having a very supportive and accepting father. You have to see the film from teenagers point of view. It very effectively offers likable young characters and riles you up about their issues before offering moral lessons. And this is where the film scores big time in my eyes. The actors playing lead characters are both good looking and act really well.

Set in a small town, at the time the film was made, in reality, probably the openly out gay teen would have been left all alone; but I am glad to see that Alex had a friend who stands by him against some pretty tough pressure from teammates, the coach, his girlfriend and his own father. Highly recommended. (8/10)
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Phor Lae Lukchai (Thai) [Father & Son]

By Golu
I think the budget of this film was probably too small, but for that, the film definitely offers a different and unique storyline without over dramatizing anything. Yes, some scenes were a bit amateurish but in the bigger scheme of things, that can be overlooked. The film is both beautiful and sad in its own unique way. Aek is a gay dad, whose partner died right around the time their son Nueng was born through surrogacy in a road accident. The relationship between father and son is unpleasant and unstable. We are not really told why, but it seems the father has been unsuccessful in caring and loving his son because of his partner's death. Aek continues to hook up wit hookers. Also, Nueng is constantly bullied by everyone around him for having a gay dad. He has no friends, except Nat, a neighborhood boy, who also happens to be Nueng's boyfriend. In a sudden turn of events Nat is found murdered along with another boy naked. Saddened by the events, Nueng jumps from roof and k...
1 comment
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

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