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...
By casting those who’ve come out in the past as “heroes” — including women’s tennis game-changers Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova, NFL vet David Kopay, retired baseballer Billy Bean and ex-NBA pioneer John Amaechi — the film aims to chip away at the potentially career-ending stigma that intimidates many athletes into keeping their identities a secret. Though Sam himself isn’t interviewed in the film, his publicist Howard Bragman indicates that the announcement was Sam’s way of taking control of a situation where others were prepared to out the All-American defensive lineman if he didn’t act first.
Interesting to hear how an athlete's sexual orientation was treated in the past vs in the present. It's an amazing evolution (compare Billie Jean King's experience of being blackmailed when she was closeted to Jason Collins, who received massive amounts of support when he came out). Also interesting to hear how an athlete's sexual orientation was treated depending on the sport they played and their gender. While the interviews of these celebrated sports idols is interesting, it dodges ongoing homophobia that has been allowed to fester for so long in the world of sports. Instead of cheerleading LGBT athletes’ decision to come out, why not go on the attack and out the institutions’ worst offenders for decades of discrimination? I understand that the film is meant to inspire or make newer generation feel comfortable coming out. Overall an ok watch, but could have been better had it handled and questioned authorities rather than showing more of a "All is well" situation. Yes, it does get better and I wonder how much more tings have changed since this film came out 9 years ago. (4.5/10)
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