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...
While homosexuality and gender identities are considered more modern concepts, the Navajo have long believed in the existence of four genders. They believed in four genders and duties were divided accordingly. Besides the two common ones, they also have born male with feminine essence and female born with male essence. The latter two were revered in Navajo community and referred to as Two Spirited humans. Sadly this was lost as Western influence progressed. We learn about Fred, a much loved boy, who he was loved by his family, how he came out, how he led his life on his own terms and how eventually he was murdered in one of the most heinous gay hate crimes. We see interviews of his friends, his mother, LGBT activists and others.
While the base of the documentary is about Fred, the real focus here is the discrimination faced by LGBT community and how its members are viewed in a traditional Navajo culture vs. a historical and modern Western culture. The horrible crime committed against Fred is just one example that highlights the conflicting cultural views and the potential hatred that Western culture can breed. Fred is just one of the representation of culture, ideas and beliefs. His family accepted him, but the society didn't. The documentary also interviews some of the other two spirit people and discuss their individual acceptance and childhood stories. Some of them had traditional vs modern homes. Two Spirits is an opportunity to see through a Native American perspective and to alter what has been long considered true: the dichotomy of sexuality. While the concept of four genders does tear down the wall between man and woman, it constructs walls of its own.
Fred’s story is one of self-acceptance in a world that does not accept, a feeling echoed throughout much of the world today. This film sheds light on a struggle felt everywhere, and is extremely important as a view of a culture of acceptance that should be in place around the world. (6/10)
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