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...
Ruben is a young guy taking a break from college to take care of his alcoholic father. His mother had died in a deadly hurricane that hit their town after which any of its residents have already left. Ruben has no friends, and so his father contacts his brother to give him some job to keep him busy. It doesn't take long to figure out that the uncle is in some kind of drug business. Ruben seems to strive with the business and not too long in the movie his best friend Jimmy from junior high returns to the town. They soon start hanging out and it feels they have some story or relationship from before but we are never told about it. Jimmy shows his old art work that he did many years ago and Ruben convinces him and his uncle to exhibit that as a art show in the warehouse that he works for his uncle in. A member of the city council stops by and he decides to make this a visitor center because the artwork has all memories of the glory that this town used to represent. Jimmy and Ruben start a beautiful loving relationship and surprisingly they are well accepted by everyone and they can be themselves. The uncle moves to anew town, father quits drinking and eventually things are all falling in place.
The film is not earthy shattering or anything but is sensitive and trying to show and emphasize how things are changing in one's life and how you have to continue to keep moving. I Was unsure where the film is headed because it felt that it kept changing the mood and genre at many places. The actors give a good show and you can see that they are very sincere in their portrayal of their characters, but the problem is none of them is charismatic or exciting to hold your attention. Yes, they do a good job of projecting the character but when the character itself is supposed to be dull, there isn't much that actors can bring to the table. I just wish there was more to romance of Jimmy and Ruben and we got to see more story to that. Jimmy's character was so plain and basic, that it was hard to connect. Ruben's uncle was the only lively person who had some gravitas. The story that the writers/director are trying to get across is a good message, and for a low budget, independent film it is alright. The film is neither a coming out film nor a redemption. It is somewhere a mishmash where everyone in their own way is dealing with their grief and issues in life and just need to move on. Thankfully it is set in a work where homophobia doesn't exist, there is no unnecessary drama despite the uncle dealing with drugs and all and overall a happy ending. (4.5/10)
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*After "Ruben's Place"-confusion, "Esteros" became even more captivating - it still has all of me and won't let me escape any time soon :)