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Journey With You (Chinese Series)

By Golu
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...
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Vincent River (French)

By Golu
This French film is actually a filmed theatrical play and the shortcomings of this are very obvious when you watch it on your TV screen. Its a serious subject, but also a story that I have at least seen twice in other settings. But he treatment here is theatrical which makes a huge difference and not in a good way, especially when all you have is two actors mouthing heavy dialogues for 1.5 hours straight.

A 50-something Anita is packing her bags before leaving her flat. A young, pale and jittery Dave has been following her for days before Anita finally allowing him to enter her home. He introduces himself as the guy who called the police informing him aboutAnita's son's brutal death. There is a cat and mouse game with lot of back and forth, with Anita admitting that her son was found dead in a gay causing park beaten to death in a homophobic attack. Initially struggling with his homosexuality, it comes out that Davey is actually her son's boyfriend and together the recount the horrible truth of the events that unfolded leading to the murder and also what role the deceased man played in their life.

A subject like this should ideally wreck you emotionally and hit you in your heart, but the very bland acting and treatment makes this film seem like its been going on forever and you can't wait for into end. I have never understood the film makers fascination for stretching a story beyond what its needed to. By the time all cards from the deck are laid to the table, as an audience I had stopped caring about any of these people long time back, because at some point they all went in to a self indulgent zone. The play set is very basic with some dark colors that try to set the tone of the story to unfold, but it could have been much better if they had already decided to film it. The actors are strictly ok. This might have worked as a live play but as a film, it fails miserably. (2/10)
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