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...
Story 1
Nana, a disabled and overweight gay student, harbors a deep crush on his younger schoolmate, Gent. The secret slips out when a mutual friend harmlessly tells Gent, causing the uncomfortable younger boy to suddenly grow distant. Nana tries to respect Gent's wishes to remain just friends, but struggles to suppress his romantic feelings. Gent's behavior grows conflicted and manipulative. In private, he stays close to Nana and even hints at romantic affection, but in public, he is deeply embarrassed by peer teasing. Obsessed with hiding their bond, Gent strictly forbids Nana from telling anyone about their outings or posting pictures together. Hurt and unable to let go, Nana breaches Gent's boundaries by posting a photo of them on Facebook anyway. The story leaves the two trapped in a toxic cycle: Gent wants the comfort of Nana's company without the public stigma, while Nana risks their fragile connection just to make his unrequited love real.
Story 2
Bas and his best friend, Boy, face a crisis when Bas' mother, who is dying of cancer, introduces him to an "aunt"—who is actually his estranged, transitioned father. Overwhelmed and unable to accept the truth, Bas runs away from home. During his flight, he reflects on his life and realizes the deep love both his parents and Boy have for him. Boy tracks him down, and the two share a kiss in the rain. Reconciled and accepting, Bas returns home the next morning holding hands with Boy, ready to face his family.
Story 3
Desperate to clear his gambling debts, Tae agrees to sell his body online to a wealthy man named Nont for 20,000 baht. Instead of taking advantage of him, Nont pays off Tae's debt, asks him to quit gambling, and expects nothing in return. Tae takes full advantage of this indulgence, leeching off Nont for money while secretly filming, sleeping with, and blackmailing women.Despite never sleeping with Nont, Tae grows possessively attached. When he sees another man leaving Nont’s home, jealousy drives Tae to prostitute himself to a stranger in a fit of spiteful misery. Nont bizarrely apologizes for his "infidelity," and Tae moves in with him. They share a bed without intimacy, living happily for a stretch, even as Tae continues his toxic schemes with women, which Nont eventually figures out. The girl also gets to know about Tae's two timing. Crushed, Tae turns to Nont for comfort, only to blurt out that he cannot love Nont anymore. When Nont coldly reveals he already knew about the girl, Tae hypocritically accuses him of being heartless and uncaring. Nont leaves him permanently, leaving Tae sobbing in the rain—a tragic ending intended for Tae, but a far sadder story for the used and manipulated Nont.
This collection can easily be missed and ignored. (3/10)
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