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...
Claudio and Riccardo. Two boys who, suddenly, are forced by their parents to live in the same house as half-brothers. Soon, however, both will have to face the birth of something more than a simple fraternal relationship and only by overcoming their fears and the prejudice of the people can they be free to be together.
A pool attendant is having an affair with baby sitter and maid of a kid. To not his father the secret, the young kid asks the pool guy to show him his penis fully hard. Is the kid blowing gay or what's the story, is not very clear in this short film.
Two lonely customers meet in an empty Shanghai bar late at night. They seem attracted to one another yet unable to really connect for long. This is a silent film with no dialogues.
During a train ride across Canada a young gay Chinese man reflects on his own sexuality (as piqued by a hunky train conductor) and his uncle's possible homosexuality. The uncovering of the hidden image of love between men discloses “dirty laundry” beneath the purified history of the lone heroic laborer. Made in 1996, this film is more of a documentary short than a feature short film.
Told through two interwoven time-lines, Tandem offers a no-holds barred glimpse into an intense gay relationship, where the love is expressed physically, tenderly and where the emotions run deep. It is a universal story which should reach out to anybody who knows how it feels to love. Story of love , lust, cheating and loss.
Boys Hurt Too (USA)
After the death of his best friend - Colt mourns. But when a rumor about his deceased friend begins to spread around town - Colt finds himself defending his friend's reputation. This was so all over the place. Only good thing about this film is a gorgeous looking guy in his underwear throughout the unnecessary 45 minute duration. Besides eye candy, this film completely fails to connect at emotional level, which was the whole point of it.
In Tel Aviv, Yoav receives a visit from Delphine, the girlfriend of Emile, his boyfriend from Paris. Their day together in the city confronts their mutual expectations in the face of a complex Israeli society. This was a very odd film, going nowhere. Actually it wasn't even clear if Yoav was gay or straight because he even kisses another girl before in the end he makes out with Delphine.
A man in his forties goes from one place to another, pretend to be heterosexual and take his new target to the Bois de Boulogne to get his way. This came way back in 1986.
Mussolini's Gay Island (France)
Shortly before the Second World War, Mussolini chose an island paradise as a place of exile for people who violated the moral codes of their time. A short documentary shows us the history of this now very pristine island.
An intimate, camp portrait of an ultimate gender bender. The exact identity of the protagonist of Lady is difficult to determine. Is it the woman who plays a man playing a woman, or more specifically: a lesbian playing a homosexual man playing a heterosexual woman? Absolutely weird short made in 1993.
A bitter-sweet story, about the beginning of a friendship between a 9-year-old daredevil MARIO and an eccentric gay young man BORCHE, challenged by the fear and the prejudices of Mario's parents, in a remote Macedonian small town. This was a nice cute little short film.
When a filmmaker comes across the Renaissance's most iconic family jewels silk-screened onto a pair of boxer briefs, he decides to explore the story of Michelangelo's David and offer those of us struggling with our own modern-day Goliaths.
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