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...
A young man finds himself waking up to no memory. He is at Miguel's house and he doesn't remember a thing about who he is, where he is from and how did he get there. He starts to panic but after being calmed down he decides to stay in the apartment as he attempts to piece his memories back together. Almost an hour into the film and 3-4 days later is when the young man asks Miguel on how he got there. Miguel tells him that they met at a nightclub and he come home with him , had sex and slept but the young man remembers none of it. Flashbacks to sexual encounters and violent confrontations begin to surface and Fernando begins to put the pieces back together with the help of Fernando. It turns out that some of his so called friends are responsible for this state who suspected that he was closeted gay.
I am trying really hard to think about anything positive about the film. IN fact at almost 2 hours the film was stretched beyond imagination . The acting by the leads was strictly ok and had absolutely no chemistry. There were so many sex scenes, almost soft-pornish thrown in every now and then which was very uncomfortable to watch. Then there is a scene when Miguel goes to meet a creepy old man who for no reason goes on and on for almost 10 minutes on Mexico's existential crisis, which had absolutely no relevance to the film. The director tried to make a homoerotic thriller but this was far from it. The idea had potential had it been done right.
Bad direction, ok acting, endlessly stretching storyline and moments of silences. This movie is without a doubt a miss. (2/10)
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The subject: a young man, Fernando, on his way to live his sexual identity and find love. I immediately found an access to Fernando's person. He portrays me as I felt and saw myself at the age of 18. Unfortunately, openly shown sexuality is too often misunderstood as offensive in films like this. But those sexual needs and facts are there. It's usually the wrong approach to make those needs disappear under any sheets or bed covers. I love this film because it shows tenderness.
Striking how touching the touches are. That longing for someone else's hand to hold. Paul Act as Fernando gives this character a vivid, true face. The development from the insecure, stranded visitor of a gay bar is stirring. In search of orientation. In images between dream and reality (a masterpiece of Leopoldo Laborde to tell the story this way). Fernando's search for understanding, friendship and love towards Miguel. The questions, the uncertainty, the joy in his face that slowly develops whilst searching and having found a partner. Who after all also understands that it is a search for a loving partner. And who then really accepts Fernando. This development is reflected in the face of this young man (Paul Act shows a very natural acting talent in it), which touched me a lot in this film. It is on the same, high level as the French film "Mit Siebzehn" (original title: Quand on a 17 ans) by André Téchiné, shown at the Berlinale 2016. I am happy that there is finally a similarly honest portrayal of this QUEER topic on German television with the series ALL YOU NEED. For BOY UNDONE and especially the actors PAUL ACT and EDUARDO LONGORIA 10 points out of 10! I look forward to the next films with the two and by Leopoldo Laborde.
BOY UNDONE Recuerdos de lo que no sucedió.
El tema: un joven, Fernando, en su viaje para vivir su identidad sexual y encontrar el amor. Encontré un acceso inmediato a la persona de Fernando. Retrata cómo me sentÃa y me veÃa a mà mismo a los 18 años. Desgraciadamente, la sexualidad mostrada abiertamente se toma con demasiada frecuencia como algo ofensivo en pelÃculas como ésta. Pero esas necesidades y hechos sexuales están ahÃ. La mayorÃa de las veces, el enfoque equivocado es dejar que esas necesidades desaparezcan bajo las sábanas. Me encanta esta pelÃcula porque muestra la ternura.
Llama la atención lo conmovedor de los toques. Ese anhelo de tomar la mano de otra persona. Paul Act como Fernando da a este personaje un rostro vivo y verdadero. La progresión del visitante inseguro y desamparado a un bar gay es conmovedora. En busca de orientación. En imágenes entre el sueño y la realidad (una obra maestra de Leopoldo Laborde para contar la historia de esta manera). La búsqueda de amor y amistad de Fernando con Miguel. Las preguntas, la incertidumbre, la alegrÃa en su rostro que evoluciona lentamente mientras busca y encuentra un compañero que ama . Que al fin y al cabo, también entiende que se trata de una búsqueda de pareja amorosa. Y que luego acepta y abraza a Fernando. Esta evolución se refleja en el rostro de este joven (Paul Act muestra un talento interpretativo muy natural en él), que me emocionó mucho en esta pelÃcula. Está al mismo nivel, alto, que la pelÃcula francesa "A los 17 años" (tÃtulo original: Quand on a 17 ans) de André Téchiné, que se presentó en la Berlinale 2016. Me alegro de que con la serie ALL YOU NEED haya por fin un retrato igual de honesto de este tema en la televisión alemana. Para BOY UNDONE y especialmente para los actores PAUL ACT y EDUARDO LONGORIA, 10 de 10 puntos! Ya estoy esperando las próximas pelÃculas de ambos y de Leopoldo Laborde.
And I agree with everything that you have said. I always wonder about the cultural sub-contexts whenever I watch foreign films, because it is hard to ignore those but at the same time as foreigners, its hard for us to understand the nuances.