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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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A Navalha na Carne (Portuguese) [Razor In The Flesh]

By Golu
This film was clearly adopted from a play. The atmosphere, storyline, just three characters and a sordid atmosphere with drama happening in confines of a single room, I bet this would have made for a good stage play. Release in 1969, this is definitely not queer cinema, bit given one of the three main characters is gay, I thought to review it here.

The plot is simple. We are slowly introduced to three characters who live in the slums area in Brazil. An again hooker, who is struggling to get clients, a gay guy who works as a cleaner and the joker's pimp. First 30 minutes show us the routine of these characters without any single dialogue. Drama starts when the pin wakes up and sees missing money from his table. When the prostitute comes it, they fight and he literally beats her up for stealing. She refuses and begs and says that maybe next door gay guy took it because she saw him with another guy. The pimp calls the gay man and beats him him who continuously refuses to have anything to do with it. Eventually he agrees he stole the money and lets the pimp beat him and humiliate him, (which secretly he enjoys). Once he leaves the room, the pimp takes all his anger on the prostitute. There is no reason but he just keeps insulting her for her age and the fact hatch should retire. This goes on.

The film is more around mental torture than physical torture IMO. The film is quite violent despite its confinement into a single room. As monied before the first 30 minutes has no dialogue. The camera tracks through shots of slums and streets, establishing the key characters and defining with great precision their dark and dirty universe. When the trio of protagonists finally enter into the core of dramatic conflict, in visceral and disturbing dialogue exchanges. I am not sure if there is a message here, but its more around abuse, aggression and helplessness in an environment in which feelings and life don't seem to be worth too much. (3/10)
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