Censored Same Sex original Work or Cultural Appropriation?
Stay With Me strives to remake the vibrant, spontaneously authentic and racy BL coming-of-age production of Addicted (2016) into a Hallmark Movie for the rest of the viewing public. Of the two main characters, the humble but brilliant Bai Luo Yin of Addicted is now Su Yu. Carnal, alpha and "seme" character Gu Hai is now Wu Bi . Why the name changes when the characters and basic plot are for all practical intents and purposes identical to the original work is anybody's guess. One of the genres this production falls under is "Censored Same Sex Original Work" but it feels more like gay or BL cultural appropriation., an infuriating "straight-washing" of one the better Boy's Love stories ever to come out of China. Almost all the basic elements of the original story are retained but with the addition of some of the most trite innocent feel-good filler material ever put to digital film. All this succeeds in making Stay With Me a production more family friendly than a trip to Disneyland.
Word had it some years back that the Chinese Communist party put the kabosh on gay themed entertainment works apparently in an effort to weed out the "soft" sissies and nurture real homegrown Chinese He Men. Perhaps this is in anticipation of a genuine hot war with the West. Who knows? What they have done is cut off their noses despite their collective faces.
I will opine, despite the competent acting and storyline, this production receded rather quickly to the wings and will become more obscure with time. The one saving grace of this new version is that the essential plot itself, the story of two senior high school boys thrust together by chance and fate at the most vulnerable points in their young lives, is strong enough to survive the evisceration of the intent, animus, youthful passions and motivations of the original. This production is still a hearty stew but without the spice and exotic flavor that made Addicted a cultural feast.
Word had it some years back that the Chinese Communist party put the kabosh on gay themed entertainment works apparently in an effort to weed out the "soft" sissies and nurture real homegrown Chinese He Men. Perhaps this is in anticipation of a genuine hot war with the West. Who knows? What they have done is cut off their noses despite their collective faces.
I will opine, despite the competent acting and storyline, this production receded rather quickly to the wings and will become more obscure with time. The one saving grace of this new version is that the essential plot itself, the story of two senior high school boys thrust together by chance and fate at the most vulnerable points in their young lives, is strong enough to survive the evisceration of the intent, animus, youthful passions and motivations of the original. This production is still a hearty stew but without the spice and exotic flavor that made Addicted a cultural feast.
Was this review helpful to you?
