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Contrast (Japanese Series)

By Golu
This is basically a high school BL where two guys who have nothing going on in common somehow end up getting really close to each other, and that's kind of the whole point of the title too. There's barely any drama or fluff packed in here, it stays pretty straightforward the whole way through. A little bit of friction pops up here and there, but it's nothing compared to what you'd normally get in this kind of show. Runtime wise you're looking at 8 episodes, each one sitting around 25-30 minutes. The two guys carrying the story are Akira and Kanata, and funny enough they knew each other's faces way before they ever knew each other's names. Kanata's the type everyone likes, always got people around him, popular guy, but there's this distance to him that people can't quite place. Turns out he had an injury that ended his football days, and that's what pushed him into being more withdrawn, and it only got worse once his younger brother got picked...
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A Herança (Portuguese/English) [Birthright]

By Golu
This is a mystery/horror genre of film. This one again, I would not call a gay film per se, since the focus is not sexuality. The lead characters just happen to be gay and even if they were straight, the film could still have been the same. The film was a straight forward one. Films in this genre usually need a lot more suspense/background and chills to scare the audience, which I thought was missing here. But given whatever little it did, it was fine.

Thomas and Beni are a happy gay couple in Berlin. But Thomas is struggling with getting his residency papers sorted. Around same time he gets the news that his mother has passed away back home in Brazil, whom he had not seen in about 10 years. Once back in Brazil, he finds out that he has now inherited the country house that is being taken care of by two of his grand aunts. Beni and Thomas decide to visit the place is hopes to sell it, and also of course, Thomas craves for some family connection. Once in the house, Thomas, as expected, is happy to hear all kinds of stories like he was born in that house, how his room was still in tact and how the two old ladies are full of love and care and treat him like a long lost child. But Beni feels something is off. He tries to reason with Tommy but he completely rebuts him for obviously he is enjoying the attention. The two men have weird dreams and one night Beni discovers and underground tunnel of sorts, and a book left by Thomas' mom according to which there are some old age rituals which this cult uses to bring back the dead of sorts. Beni wants them to leave immediately but Thomas refuses, so Beni leaves alone. Thomas is somehow very much in control of these ladies, who try to get him married to this young girl in the house and while performing a ritual, the dead old lady wakes up. Somehow, all of a sudden, Thomas realizes what is going on. Around same time Beni is back, because he cannot leave is love behind and after one altercation manages to take Thomas back with him and leave this forsaken land for good.

The movie has potential but I think the subject was not fully developed. The psychological horror where the two aunts are trying to take young Thomas' mind in control., how and why, the whole story of the older aunt etc. It seems like at many places it was rushed, which normally I would have liked but it seems we were missing a lot of background here. Who was that young. Girl? What about that old guy with the gun? When Beni finds that old book, that would have been a good time to unravel some secrets for the audience, but that also doesn't happen. The film's atmosphere and cinematography was good. Thankfully it was not one of those sleazy horror ones, but the psychological types where some old cult is doing some sinister things. It was alright, I suppose. The two actors do a decent job and made a good couple. You can feel their problems, you can feel their differences, but you can feel their love. The big problem here is the screenplay, which felt lazy and convenient at many places. But, despite that the film is not boring. Thankfully with a runtime of about 80 minutes, it is an easy watch. I would recommend this if you enjoy psycho horror genre. Otherwise, I would skip it. And like I said the couple here just happens to be gay. Even if they were straight, the same story could hav been told with absolutely no changes whatsoever. (4.5/10)
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