This one falls into that darker corner of gay cinema. There was real potential buried in here, but the execution feels so flat that at points it plays out more like a filmed stage play than an actual movie. It's a dark psychological drama built around a street hustler confessing to a brutal, confusing murder of his own lover. Black and white flashback sequences do a solid job laying out the details of what happened, but the real focus stays on the dialogue and the writing itself. Right at the start, a young hustler has already killed his male lover Claude. Three days go by before he calls the police to turn himself in for the murder. But instead of just reporting it somewhere ordinary, he actually summons the police and the local press directly into a judge's private chambers. Yves has keys to the place, which tracks given what he does for a living, but having the press waiting right outside makes the whole scene look like some elaborate blackmail scheme against the judge. The ...
Mitsuomi quits his job and Tokyo to come back to his hometown hoping to join his father's furniture business. But the father hasn't forgotten how 10 years back his son rejected the same job to do something on his own. Mitsuomi meets Yamato, who has a noticeably perky and bubbly personality. He is the adopted son of a family friend and same age as Mitsuomi. Eager to befriend the new arrival in town, Yamato invites Mitsuomi to work at his grandfather’s farm. Although Mitsuomi is reluctant at first, he starts helping Yamato and his grandpa harvest crops during this busy season. Tired at first, Mitsuomi son learns the ways of working and the two boys become vey close friends. They talk about their families. The lazy and cynical Mitsuomi can't help but get charmed by Yamato’s perpetually infectious enthusiasm towards life. He even finds himself getting attracted to him and kisses him one night but is afraid of where this will lead. Also in the meantime, Yamato makes Mitsuomi realize that all it will take is an apology to mend relations with his father. When Yamato's adoptive father falls sick, he decides to look for his birth parents to close that chapter of his life and its this trip where the two boys confess love and closeness to each other, understanding very well that they both are men and they don't know what it means, but they do like each other a lot.
Once the film ends, my first thoughts were what a refreshingly charming and simple yet loving film. As Mitsuomi says at one point in the film, if I was to meet someone like Yamato in real life, I would find him annoying too first few times but its only later you will realize how selfless love and friendship works. You just give, without expecting anything in return. The film has no unnecessary tests because of sexuality or anything else, it goes on in a simple flow with its two very very likable characters. The acting is very natural and the emotions shows even by the family members are very subtle which adds to the reality of the whole thing. The two boys are not young, but they also don't really understand what loving someone of the same sex means. They will have a hard journey ahead probably, but for now, they both, with support and love from each other, want to move ahead. I like the natural progression of their romance, even though I do think this movie could’ve offered a bit more BL content between them. The film is also a lot about family, need fo sit, support of family and why may be the most important thing in life. As you grow older, you start realizing this. The film resonated very well with me with its story, setting and what it was overall trying to say. The gay in me of course wanted more of love scenes and general BL content between the two men, but that's not what the makers were thinking and it Italy makes sense.
Highly recommend this film, if you are looking to watch something positive, loving and pleasantly charming. This film will no doubt bring a wide smile to your face. (8.5/10)
Comments
The contryside setting made me think of the fantastic HIS movie too, but with a different feeling.
Looking back, I realize Japan makes a lot of excellent gay series/movies (except when it's school yaoi). Please keep them coming !!
If I wanted to compare, I'd say the few japanese "BL in school world" I tried to watch were horrible compared to thai ones.
Talking about japanese in real gay world, I don't know if you had put "kinou nani tabeta" (what did you eat yesterday) in your list but I absolutely loved it :)
yes, u r right that Thai BL content indeed kept us busy and entertained during covid times. Unfortunately, with work starting back full time now, and so much regular stuff to watch too, there are just not enough hours in the day anymore. lol