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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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The Second Life of Thieves (Malay)

By Golu
I think watching this film was like watching a film-makers pretentious non-linear story that lingers on long shots of village, first, after and the mundane life of some of its inhabitants. Trying to connect the mystery of the past with the present, it uses very lo-fi aesthetics and the film moves at such a slow pace, it tests you. An arthouse piece of cinema, it will be hard to find people who would really appreciate this film.

Older police chief Tan has just found out that his wife has ran away with an old friend Lai. This brings Tan, in touch with Lai's daughter Sandra, who has just been deported back from UK. Through Sandra's first hand and sometimes second hand recollection we get to learn about the past. Lai was an immigrant who married his wife but also was having an affair with another girl (Tan's now wife). But that affair goes nowhere since Lai is married. In a sudden twist we are told that Lai also had an affair with Tan, but given the strict laws against gays in Malaysia, they both know this relationship will go nowhere and its Tan who ultimately decides that they need to break off and concentrate on their families. And now its Lai who has run away from him. However, Tan feels his relationship with Lai is eternal, and after his abandonment decades before decides to continue to express his love for Lai in his own way. 

The story is definitely interesting but we are not old at any point how did the two men meet in their youth and how did the relationship start. Lai, who was always into women to the extent of even having an extra marital affair suddenly is having an affair with Tan. Surely, both men find happiness with each other, but social norms come in their way. But as an audience we are told the story through long lingering shots with lightest of touches of emotions, a reality built on wandering thoughts and subjectivity. The story makes sense but the execution doesn't. Combined this some ongoing murder investigation of some Burmese girl, I feel either I am missing some political context or there are just some parts of the film that just went over my head. All in all the story of this forbidden romance, if executed better, could have been nice. But for a 10-15 minute gay romance and background, this film just takes its own sweet time with a very random unexpected ending. (3/10)
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