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...
This film is so simple yet very seductive. We see a young boy recounting his encounter with another man in a movie theatre in much details. IN the next scene, we see the other guy also revisiting the same scene from his point of view to his boyfriend, who in turn then shares one of his experiences in a bus. Its just words but I feel that almost every gay man at some point will be able to identify with it.
After a night of very passionate and raunchy sex, two young men are having coffee in kitchen. The conversation unexpectedly leads to a bitter dialogue about death, past, memories, life , about mothers and about status after their death. A film about vulnerability and finding comfort with most unexpected of people and time.
More British Sounds (USA)
images from The British Are Coming (1986) collide with dialogue from See You at Mao (1969). The fetishistic sports underwear, skinhead tattoos, and bad boy snarls have been widely adopted. This was simply weird.
In the Austrian Alps, father and son set out on a hike to finally climb to the top of their emotional world. They both use this as an opportunity to connect since the father has recently separated. The son is also finally open up his heart about his boyfriend and love life to his father. A bond, that was never there gets developed.
Max goes on a date with another guy, Tadas, whom he met online. Max feels uncomfortable and timid so Tadas decides to act on his own initiative. He tries to get to know Max as they embark on a night ride around the city but Max is evasive to talk about himself. Max feels torn between his feelings and Tadas' pressure. Eventually he breaks down and reveals his true identity.
A breakdown on the way to the airport provides a father and son with an opportunity to reconnect. And as in the recently scene short film, this is also more about a father finally acknowledging his son's sexuality and even accepting it. This was a short little gem.
When a lover returns from a holiday in Amsterdam, his reunion with his boyfriend is a little strained. On repeated instance, the boyfriend tells him the hook up he had with another guy on his trip, which leads to an unexpected jealousy in the boyfriend. Even though they have an open relationship, it takes both of them to get over the awkwardness of the whole thing.
This story takes place about 2 and half years after their first encounter. Kijima moved from Tokyo to his parents' house where his sister and her husband live, and Kuzumi, who was a university student, got a job and works in Tokyo as a member of society. The two, who had only communicated by letters, reunited in the countryside where Kijima lives.
Another year and another snapshot of life of Kijima and Kuzumi. This time Kijima takes Kujumi to meet his sensei's grave, the teacher who showed him the ropes to become the famous erotic novel writer, that he is today.
A short 10 min video glance into Wrik Mead, Canada’s prolific poet-priest of pervert pixilation, has accumulated an impressive body of animated shorts. Known for his play with texture, light and colour, Mead’s films weave queer fantasies, parables, and even documentary, while exploring the relationship between stigma, shame, and sexuality.
A new batch of army recruits have just joined and Sergeant Garcia soon notices the young and twinkly Hermes. He take s liking for him and secures him onto giving into sexual urges. It's a cute little story but it left me lot of questions. Why are all those childhood flashbacks? Was it right or wrong for a sergeant to use a new recruit through his position of power or whether it was the sergeant showing Hermes his right way to life.
Lucho, a 13-year-old trans boy, doesn’t usually spend much time with his father. When they go on a family holiday together, their new closeness puts their relationship to the test, especially since Lucho just gets his period. An interesting trans representation where silence and empathetic glances speak a lot more that dramatic dialogues.
Flávio and Wendel are from the same soccer school and they share the dream of being a professional soccer player. Flávio is having doubts whether he should keep trying and when he thinks about quitting, Wendel realizes that what they feel for each other might be more than just friendship. Amateurish but very beautifully done short film about self acceptance, love and friendship.
Two boys. Two stories that intersect. Two lives united by a condition that defines their existences. Two journeys in search of self-recognition in the mirror. We meet two trans male boys sharing their stories of realizing, transitioning and family support in their journey.
Harley tries to deal with his tumultuous emotions after his gay best friend Lucas is horribly beaten in a hate crime. When Lucas is released from the hospital, Harley discovers his feeling have changed and now he maybe in love with his friend.
BDAY (USA)
A hotheaded dancer blows a gig and a friendship as he searches for authenticity and love on his birthday. Weird !
Sea in the Blood (Canada) (Documentary)
Video artist Richard Fung’s personal documentary about living with illness, tracing the filmmaker’s relationship to both AIDS and the blood disorder thalassemia, which afflicted his partner and sister respectively.
Atraccion (Peru) [Male Affection]
Lucas and Bruno are 2 friends who sometimes also fool around and have sex. Bruno's life is going for a spin, when Lucas tells him that he in actually interested in his sister and that he is bisexual. He just wants Bruno to be the 'understanding' friend and not judge him. Good acting and a decent short film.
Comments