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...
An American man Ira lives in London with his partner of many years Tom. His illness is almost the stage of AIDS and of late Tom has become erratic with signs of dementia. Ira is trying his best to cope up with Tom and his changing moods. In one such manic state, Tom decides to visit his estranged family back in Glasgow with whom he hasn't talked in 10 years. His family, with their reservations, try to house him for few days despite his older brother and his family totally despising him. The visit soon develops into a nightmare as dementia sets in and Tom's health rapidly declines. His brother calls Ira who takes him back to London. His health continues to deteriorate and Ira and his group of friends do their best to support him waiting for him to die. At one point he gets admitted into the hospital and it is fuzzy whether he will be able to make it alive or not. This is when Tom realizes that's real family is Ira and his friends who have been with him through thick and thin. The ending is a bit weird, and I am not sure if he actually survives or is it supposed to be all a happy dream. You make your pick.
My big problem with the film is my lack of sympathy or empathy for anyone. None of the characters are developed enough for me to actually feel the love between the couple. Silly, rosy-tinted flashbacks to their earlier days together aren’t enough; what’s needed is some solid exposition of the pair’s life together before the onset of Tom’s illness. Why is Tom behaving in a way that he is, fails to invoke empathy. Having said. That, the film is another film in the list of films that try to show us what life was for those dealing with AIDS and people around them. It was definitely not easy and just as a reminder of that, the film is worth seeing. As AIDS patients you can only imagine how someone feels angry, powerless and frightened at the same time. The actors do a good job, but its the long drawn scenes tattiest your patience. The film can easily be edited to make it more relevant. (4/10)
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