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...
There is a secluded house in middle of nowhere, called 'Casa Izabel', where cis gendered men come, disguise as women and spend their time. These are all socially well to do men and they live out their fantasies while no one judges them. It is a temporary escape, allowing them to become the glamorous women they desire to be. They don wigs, make-up, gowns, and aliases to live openly for their short stay — tossing back champagne, dancing, and even hunting wild boar in their pumps. This setting, managed by the transvestite Izabel, becomes a sanctuary for their unique escapades. But Izabel is extremely old now, so the things are managed by a caretaker, a middle aged woman and her son, who is also dresses up as female. We see, how this middle aged woman has kept an older man as captive. Apparently he came looking for her son, whom she hasn't heard from in more than 2 months. She thinks he is part of the revolution and so is scared of him. She is also having an affair with a man who dresses up and stays in this property, who eventually turns out to be secret cop. When she accidentally kills him, the son/daughter drugs everyone and puts the house on fire so that no clues remain.
I would say that the only female actor on the film was the central character here alongwith her son and the older Izabel. Her portrayal goes beyond the superficial, representing the deep-seated loss and suffering under the dictatorship era. The relationship between Dahlia and Izabel underscores a theme of mutual dependence and hidden realities. At some point, I think the film also tries to show the social difference. Even when Izabel is almost on her death bed, she makes sure to remind the care taker and her son that they need her as much as she needs them to eventually make her house their own and you can see how this seed a resentment of sorts in the young man's mind and eventually leading to the climax. The whole initial sequence of a new guy coming in and trying to fit in is just to show us what the house is about. Except the guy who gets killed, all the other 'ladies' in the house are there just to show a secret hideout of sorts for people like them. It is a commentary of sorts on ever changing social-political climate in the country. (5.5/10)
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