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...
The film starts usual with a thorough account of the mysterious early days of AIDS, reports about gay disease, how it was perceived and archival clips stress the homophobia that ran rampant amid the uncertainty of the disease’s transmissibility. Survivors recall in contemporary interviews the wrenching experience of seeing loved ones die alone. Scenes discussing the APLA’s hotline calls and the need for a buddy system for Aids patients ring home how strong the LGBTQ+ community is and had to be in the face of ignorance, fear, and stigma. “It was discrimination that killed many of us,” we hear at one point. The film shares the events through which celebrities and activists raised funds and awareness through the star-studded Commitment to Life galas thrown by APLA. The film acknowledges that the media coverage of AIDS chiefly sympathized with white gay men. In reality, it shows how much AIDS ripped through Black communities with the skewed media coverage partly to blame. So in an attempt to correct that narrative, the makers give time to people from Black, Asian, Hispanic, and Trans communities ensuring they get a chance to tell their stories. Commitment to Life also shows how stars like Liz Taylor and Joan Rivers were quick to come to the aid of groups like APLA, giving the cause a boost in support and placing it in front of the eyes of those seeking to ignore it. Equally, the film explores how the death of Rock Hudson gave a familiar face to the disease.
The film occasionally evokes an air of branded content as many APLA members speak to their history in their own production. However, the absence of an arm’s length removal remains notable. Queer people were and still are at the front lines of the fight against AIDS. This film salutes the people who fought for a community in need, and one can only share the appreciation. Although there is still scope for another feature to be made that delves even further into Hollywood’s response to AIDS by interviewing surviving key players, this film serves as a vital document commemorating the essential work of the APLA and LA’s community response to the height of the AIDS crisis. (5/10)
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