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...
Lin lives as a tenant who is looking after an old landlady suffering from late-stage diabetes and her nine-year-old grandson Yo-yu. He is regarded as a kind man by everyone including the music school where he teaches piano. But, when the old grandam dies under mysterious circumstances, things start to go downhill. Yo-yu’s uncle, Wang Li-gang, is shocked to find out that the ownership of his mother’s apartment has been transferred to Yo-yu, who has since been legally adopted by Lin. The uncle suspects. That Lin may have murdered his mother for the apartment and files a complaint. To make matters worse, drug is found in grandma's body, which it turns out was bought by Lin from another man on a gay hook-up app. Through flashbacks it is revealed that Lin was the gay partner of You-yo's father who died 5 years ago and the son is form his ex-wife. He has since been taking care of grandma and Yo-yu, despite the young boy not understanding the relationship between Lin and his father. The truth behind the mystery death is eventually revealed, Lin gets released from jail but the custody of the child then goes to the uncle.
The acting by everyone in this film is amazing, especially the kid. The loneliness, the fear, the confusions around him is portrayed by so well. We see multiple situations where Lin faces homophobic discrimination even during the investigation by the police. The uncle is made to be the villain, but he is also not sure what really is going on and just wants the truth to come out. The background information is revealed to us in many layers like onion, one step at a time. We understand how Lin's lover dies, and that his lingering love and regret toward his lost love is apparent and easily understandable. The story on the relationship of Lin and his partner seemed a bit dramatic when the reveal is done of his death, but I don't mind it. The homosexuality is not overstated or intentionally highlighted, its more just a matter of fact, an essential part of the tale Cheng is trying to tell; which I thought was wonderful. Despite all the goodness, the film is not an easy watch. It is excruciatingly slow and really tests your patience. Thankfully all the emotions are subtle without any overacting or drama but some sections go on for what seems like forever while the results are already painfully obvious.
The story is great, acting is superb, but the film can use some very tight editing and a faster pace to keep audience's hooked. I would definitely recommend this as a good piece of cinema but beware that it is slow. (7/10)
Comments