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Soul Mate (Japanese Series)

Is this technically a gay show? Even after getting through the whole thing, that's still kind of tricky to answer. There's never any physical intimacy shown between the two leads, not even a single kiss. What it gives you instead is something that goes way deeper than that. It traces an emotional bond that spans a full decade between two guys who are both dealing with their own baggage, and what they share basically amounts to being soulmates. The story moves across Japan, South Korea, and Berlin. Honestly, whether people want to call what they have a romantic relationship or not doesn't really matter to me. A relationship doesn't need a label like boyfriends attached to it to actually mean something. And closeness doesn't need to be physical to feel genuine. What this show captures is something quieter but way more powerful, a bond rooted in understanding, respect, and just showing up for each other. Across eight episodes, each running 35 to 45 minutes, this is one...

Easy Tiger (Sign Language/English/French)

A few of us may have seen some of those European arthouse films, sometimes they are abstract and sometimes they are wonderful, so every time when I watch one, I am always skeptical. This film was one of those. It had barely any dialogues, very abstract setting, confused sexuality of the protagonist and a message, that I personally didn't understand as to what the point of this film in the first place. Thankfully the film ends in just an hour.

The story is basic, if you can call that. A good looking psychologist believes that he is living the perfect life both professionally and personally. During a session with a deaf male client, after the passing away of his boyfriend, the lead man feels a strong attraction to him and that stirs up feelings that have been long buried inside him. As he tries to maintain his relationship with his girlfriend and resist his desires, the psychologist is drawn to his client and the new feelings that he can no longer hide. They start having an affair and nether knows where this will lead to. The ending is also so bizarre and random.

The story is told mostly through International Sign Language and body language. Subtitles flash up on the screen throughout the film to give some sense of an over-riding narrative, which confuses me even more, because it snot like there are no dialogues. There is just no logic to when they do and don't happen. A good amount of film is spent on growing attraction between two men and how it comes about, but again the problem is, what is the point of the film. I hate it when filmmakers say that we want to audience to have their own interpretation. I mean, fuck that. The film fails to entertain, stimulate, excite or connect with the audience and I would really be curious to know who actually thinks this film is a gem or something, because for normal folks like me, this is a waste of time, money, talent. It all felt rather awkward and not put-together, despite two good looking male leads. (1.5/10)

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