Skip to main content

Journey With You (Chinese Series)

By Golu
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...
Post a Comment

On Sera Heureux (French/English) [We'll Find Happiness]

By Golu

This movie uses the huge topic of immigration to dive into deep issues like race and class, though the heart of the story is really about sexuality. It uses a pretty unique style where it doesn't just tell you everything upfront. Instead, it peels back layers like an onion, so you slowly start to get why the characters are doing what they’re doing. I honestly loved this film; it’s very subtle and nothing feels over the top. The emotions and the way things play out feel very much in sync with what’s happening in the world today.

The story kicks off in Iran, where a man named Reza is getting married even though he’s secretly gay. He gets caught with his male partner and has to run for his life, but sadly his partner is killed. The movie then jumps to Montreal, where Reza is hiding from the authorities in a church basement. Through flashbacks, we learn about his journey and meet the other main character, Saad. Saad is a migrant from Morocco who has actually changed his identity to stay under the radar. Both men ended up in Canada seeking asylum after a rough journey by boat through Europe. They are deeply in love, but Reza’s paperwork is a mess, and he’s about to be deported. In a desperate move to save him, Saad tries to seduce a high-ranking immigration official named Laurent, hoping he can pull some strings. It’s a risky plan that turns both intimate and political. Even though Saad has a plan, he’s got a heart of gold and finds it hard to actually ask for the favor, especially as he and Laurent start to actually fall for each other. Eventually, Laurent finds out the truth. He’s heartbroken and angry, but he still uses his power to save Reza. Unfortunately, the truth about Saad’s fake identity comes out, and he ends up being the one deported for lying.

Reza, Saad, and Laurent end up in this really complicated and emotional love triangle. The acting is so subtle that I felt totally pulled into their world. I actually felt for all three of them and understood why they made the choices they did. Saad is the real soul of the movie; he’s so desperately in love with Reza that he’ll try anything to keep him safe. He’s such a good person at heart that even when he’s trying to play Laurent, he can't bring himself to go through with the "ask" because it feels wrong. The actor playing Saad is incredible—you really feel everything he’s going through. The film does a great job showing the contrast between Laurent’s luxurious life and the scary, unstable world the migrants live in. Since the story jumps around in time, you see how these guys are constantly haunted by their past, even when they’re trying to be happy.

I did have a couple of small gripes, like I wasn't totally sure why Saad felt he had to burn off his fingerprints just because he hit a guard once. Also, Reza’s character felt a bit thin compared to the others. For example, if he was applying for asylum based on being gay, wouldn't his lawyer have coached him better on the tough questions the officials would ask? Some of those scenes felt a little off to me. But if I stop nitpicking, the movie really hit home. It’s a bit of a bummer that it’s not a perfectly happy ending. Reza gets to stay because of what Saad and Laurent did, but Saad gets the short end of the stick and gets deported. It’s a sad story about a man who loves two people and ends up losing both. It turns from a movie about immigration into a story about total self-sacrifice. Saad keeps giving up his own happiness for Reza and ends up with nothing. I’d definitely recommend this one—it’s a very relevant look at the struggles gay men face while trying to find a safe place to live.

It’s a beautiful and heartbreaking look at the immigration system that feels incredibly real, focusing on sacrifice and the difficult choices people make for love. (8/10)

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Tuxedo (Thai Series)

By Golu
When I saw this series with 8 episodes of about 20-25 minutes each, I thought, good: Finally someone has come to senses and made a show which is not stretched out and they have tried to squeeze in a decent storyline in a good small episode format. But unfortunately, despite a decent premise on hand, the clunky writing, bad screenplay and an extreme tasteless portrayal of mental illness makes this show, not a fun watch. By the time it finishes, you just want to laugh off at the entire absurdity of it all. Aioun is talented tuxedo designer and very much in demand but he has handful of clients and he builds suits only for people who he feels a connection to. One night when his younger brother is about to get mugged, he is helped by a total stranger named Sichol. Since he tears his suit in the fight and has an interview the next day, Aioun gifts him a suit form his design as an expression of thanks. Sichol's interview is for. Personal assistant of a man named Nawee, a wealthy heir to h...
25 comments
Read more

Heartstopper: Season 2 (Web Series) (UK)

By Golu
Heartstopper Season 1 was a universal hit. You could not have read one bad review or heard from anyone who has seen the show not liking it. It was the kind of series that is easy to love, with sweetness exploding out of every scene without overwhelming you. So naturally, when Netflix greenly Season 2, expectations were naturally high and the same happened with me. I didn't know what to expect, but I had high expectations of this very very sweet teenage love story. And with eagerness and being a little late to the game by a few days, here I am, pouring my t thoughts down having just finished one of the most anticipated shows of the year. The second season also has 10 episodes and has all of our loved ones from the original season. The show continues from where it had left off in Season 1. Charlie and Nick are a couple and only their very close circle of friends know about it. This includes Charlie's best friend Tao and his trans best friend Elle. The center of the show is still ...
19 comments
Read more

Gaya Sa Pelikula (Filipino Series) [Like In The Movies]

By Golu
Pinoy BL series seem to be catching up to the popularity of the Thai shows. And I must say that they are doing a pretty good job at it. Where Thai series started to get repetitive with so many shows based in a college setting with seemingly similar storylines, Pinoy series are offering the viewers with new and interesting stories and some really good sets and surroundings. This series was 8 episodes of about 25-20 minutes each. Karl, a 19-year old introvert architecture student is in the middle of an identity crisis. Prior to the start of the second semester in college and forced by his parents, he moves into his uncle's condominium unit so that he can learn to be financially independent. Karl takes on odd jobs online to do so. But when one of his major clients suddenly goes MIA, he is left short on funds and without a means to pay for his utilities. An opportunity presents itself when his cocky neighbor Vlad has to hide from his family and proposes to share Karl's space for th...
23 comments
Read more