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...
Michael Joseph Jason John (USA)
A single man imagines how life might be with a mysterious stranger he picks up on the New York City subway. A romantic thriller exploring one-night stands and the inherent thrill and risks of our hook-up culture.
Maacher Jhol (India) [The Fish Curry]
Having decided to come out to his parents, Lalit spends the day cooking his father’s favourite dish, Maacher Jhol. He pours his heart and soul into the meal before serving his father the delicious fish curry, but will his dish be more palatable than his confession. The film is in an animated format.
Blood Out Of A Stone (UK)
Because first impressions matter Michael sets Dan a challenge on their very first date together. But Dan is out of his comfort zone; he isn’t used to dates requiring such vulnerability. East London provides the backdrop to this intimate story of immediate “connection”.
Vi Finns inte längre (Sweden) [No More We]
After Hampus declares “There’s No More We” he feels total relief, the weight of their destructive relationship slips off his shoulders. For his fiancé Adrian it’s a devastating shock. How can they now help each other navigate the beginning of the end?
Between Here and Now (Denmark)
Visiting Copenhagen, Tony meets local boy Oscar at a bar. Initially cautious, Tony finds himself drawn to Oscar and their relationship rapidly intensifies; they want each other, they need each other, but can each trust the other?
Run(a)Way Arab (UK)
As drag queen Queen Za Dream prepares to go on stage, she recalls the joy of being an 8 year-old boy helping her flamboyant Iraqi-Egyptian mother get ready, and the transgressive moment that broke their close bond. Run(a)way Arab is a semi-autobiographical film from British-Iraqi director Amrou Al-Kadhi.
Meatoo (UK)
A naive actor auditions for a film which could launch his career. The things he’s asked to do make him more and more uncomfortable, until a choice remark from the director makes him see red. Based on a real event, MEATOO is an improvised film that was conceived and shot in a day.
Dusk (UK)
Growing up in 1950s England, young Chris Winters struggles to fit into the gender roles dictated by wider society. When Chris meets dream woman Julie, life lightens a little, but the growing feeling that theirs is a life half lived haunts Chris. They start to imagine what might have been.
Jermaine and Elsie (UK)
Elsie is fiercely independent, but due to a drink problem, is now reluctantly reliant on carers. When Jermaine, a black, sexually ambiguous carer arrives she gives him hell, but patient and caring Jermaine quickly wins her over. When Jermaine disappears without a word, Elsie makes it her mission to find out what happened to him.
Four Quartets (UK)
Raf is young, he’s fun and on the pull, but tonight is struggling to find his place among the crowd. Sometimes it’s that moment when you stop trying that magic really strikes.
After a few disappointing chapters in this series. this latest set of short stories redeems itself with some really touching stories and interesting characters.
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