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...
Simon and Oscar are a gay couple who have invited both their side of families for Christmas dinner. They have just moved into a new house and they want the familial family comfort. We first meet Oscar's Swedish parents. They are old and charming but also say wrong things at wrong times. They are rich and dad doesn't like the fact that Oscar has left all his education to pursue writing. There's Oscar's sister and his niece as well. Then we have Simon. His Greek parents are separated. Father works as a cleaner in the hotel the other parents were staying and the mother has a new boyfriend. There is also Simon's teenage brother. Simon is doing well for himself. Finally the most important piece of puzzle Cissi. Cissi is Simon's best friend since kids and now she is heavily pregnant. After dilly dallying with usual family commotion, everyone is shocked to know that Cissi is pregnant by Oscar and Simon. Whenever parents want clarification on who the father is , they both say that they are both but Oscar's father will have none of it. He goes in the homophobic frenzy reminding him this is not legal etc etc and that only one person can be father. Seeing Simon/Oscar also in some doubt, it hurts Cissi and she leaves. This is when the parents realize their mistake, and bring Cissi back home. She soon births a baby girl on Christmas Day and family's happiness knows no bounds.
First things first, the performances in this film are pretty good. Some scenes are funny, especially showing Oscar's Swedish's parents ignorance at other cultures be it Greek or Lebanese (mother's boyfriend). Unfortunately, the jokes fall flat on more than one occasion. Its so called "humor" for the most part consists of someone making a clumsy entrance, saying something awkward about someone while they're sitting next to him or her, or just making it as simple as strictly ripping off ideas that has worked in the past from other better movies. It's the drama side which holds stronger, but this film, if it was drama, would have been too heavy to see, especially as a holiday film. So, I feel, somewhere the good writing is missing here. Films like this work mostly because of good ensemble chemistry, which this one had. I think, a few more jokes would have helped. Also, I wonder what was the point of showing how the new house they bought was completely in shambles? That adds nothing to the story itself. A strict one time watch, which leaves nothing much memorable for you to remember. (5/10)
Comments