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...
I really had a good time with this little indie gay flick set in a tiny town in Peru. The production value is definitely on the lower side and it isn't the sharpest-looking thing you'll ever see, but honestly, I felt like that actually worked in its favor. It kind of reflects that conservative, old-school vibe of people living in small cities where life is all about God and sticking to the "straight" path. Because of that, a part of me was able to really connect with the movie and the characters on a much deeper emotional level than I expected.
The story kicks off when Sebastian has to rush home to Peru from LA because he finds out his mom had a stroke. He sticks around to look after her and ends up reconnecting with old friends and his ex-girlfriend, Lucia, who’s working as a nurse. It turns out Lucia has a son, and after Sebastian sleeps with her, he eventually discovers that the kid is actually his. Lucia never breathed a word about the pregnancy before he left for the States, though we find out why later on. Things get really tense when Sebastian's husband, Josh, shows up in town, and the narrow-mindedness of the community really slaps them in the face. His mom refuses to even lay eyes on Josh, and we slowly learn that Sebastian was basically kicked out by his mother years ago when he came out. Even though he’d told Lucia the truth back then, having Josh there makes his sexuality impossible for his friends, his mom, or the town to ignore. They’re treated like total outcasts everywhere they go, which is a brutal reminder of why he ran away in the first place. On top of that, Josh is fuming that Sebastian slept with his ex, and finding out there's a secret son involved doesn't exactly help matters. After his mother eventually passes away, Sebastian heads back to LA with Josh to live their happy life, but his heart is still back in Peru with his son. In a really emotional finale, he decides he has to move back to his hometown to build a relationship with the boy.
I liked a lot of things about this movie, even though I don't totally get on board with how it ended. I feel like there could've been some kind of happy medium. It’s so obvious that Josh and Sebastian are head over heels for each other, but it’s also true that Sebastian just found out he has a nine-year-old son he wants to know. The ending would make sense if he was just visiting, but it felt a lot more like he was leaving Josh behind to move back for good. I really felt for Sebastian’s character and the struggle he must’ve gone through growing up in a place where being gay is just a punchline. Even now, his "friends" still mock him, and he’s just trying to be himself. The fact that his own mother chose her reputation over him is heartbreaking. One thing I truly appreciated was how much they actually communicated. Sebastian told his ex the truth about being gay before he originally left, and he’s honest with Josh about sleeping with her and how confused he feels. He knows he's happy with Josh, but everything else has him spinning. I totally get why he needs to be with his son, especially since the kid playing the role was just incredibly cute.
The whole situation felt very grounded and believable to me. One part that felt a bit random, though, was his mom suddenly wanting to hear all about his wedding right before she died, especially since she’d spent the whole movie hating the fact that he was gay. I can’t speak for sure on how accurate the townspeople’s reactions were—treating them like the plague—since I don't know rural Peru, but I’m sure the filmmakers did their research. At the end of the day, this small film about a man’s internal battle with his sexuality, his love life, and his need for approval really hit home for me. Watching him try to navigate his relationship, his family, and his culture felt incredibly real.
This is a deeply emotional and realistic look at the tug-of-war between a man’s past and his present, anchored by a really relatable struggle for acceptance. It’s a heartfelt indie gem that overcomes its low budget with a lot of soul. (7.5/10)
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