Eddie B

For the casual western viewer, this period Chinese melodrama poses some real challenges. However with patience, an earnest desire to comprehend the production, and a good rewind button, the rewards are worth the effort. Ancient China, court intrigue and courtly etiquette, an evil plot, assassins, beautifully handsome young actors and actresses, and a bit of comedy for the groundlings, Love is More than a Word is a tale unfolding upon the screen as if in stunning calligraphy upon an unrolled parchment. The sets and staging are amazingly brilliant and lush in color, the costuming and makeup likewise breathtaking, the huge cast and extras all very convincing in their various rolls. Few stories of this homoerotic genre are told with such obvious material investment; one can easily believe the budget for this production was immense. Director Chen Peng has previously had a success with another similar production in this genre, Like Love, an unpretentious, lively and light-hearted tale of a college romance between a brooding, menacing undergrad, An Ziyan, and his endearingly ditzy but earnest classmate Maiding. But despite its enjoyable playfulness, where Like Love lacked for budget and production quality, this much more impressive effort shines brightly.
Not for the culturally feint hearted, the complex plot and obscure cultural touchstones make this wonderful little film a genuine effort as I have previously stated, but if you have the time and a willing heart, you won't be disappointed.

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One expects a certain degree of melodrama and cheesiness with any formulaic romance /action/bl/whatever. But this goes overboard without a life preserver. Yes the actors are handsome and the teasing genuine, the fight scenes thrilling, the costuming adequate as are the sets, but if you're looking for a three dimensional character, forget it. After 20 episodes I thought finally we had something interesting. Could we finally touch on the human condition in the character of Wang Zhi Shui, whose background story was full of pathos? Kudos to the director. There are vignettes focusing on his relationship with the wealthy playboy Da Yu, delivered at times remarkably gently with an almost ethereal sensitivity to other uproariously hilarious moments worthy of an entirely separate production. Have you ever woken with your partner in bed covered in chicken feathers? No, neither have I, yet this director delivers this shaggy dog tale within a tale, like a seasoned stand up comic delivering his hilarious punchline. These two characters could have been spun into a Chinese Tom Sawyer and Huck Fin, or The Prince and the Pauper, to the leading actors' Batman and Robin. A BL Pygmalion subplot practically screams for attention here. But no sooner had I fallen under the charming story of the rich kid taking the poor street kid into his home and heart, than we see the latter wretch throwing eggs at the co-stars sister in a silly motivation that came off more like misogyny . In fact the way the sister character is treated throughout the entire production simply screams, "China!? Get into the 20th century at least on women's issues!" The characters are one dimensional and at times border on the offensive. Save for the aforementioned secondary "ship", you'll find more depth in a swimming pool.

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Sublime

Other reviewers have described this film as subtle and hypnotic. To this I would add intense and profoundly moody. The directors pacing is intense and the cinematography beautiful. The plot itself is somewhat perplexing, as one cannot quite figure out exactly what the relationship is between Seiryo and his female interest Shino. All of this achieves a kind of beautiful foreboding atmosphere.The chemistry between these two lead actors is such that their lack of any follow up projects together these past few years is a shame . Many films you can watch one time, enjoy them adequately and be done with them but not this one. It lingers and almost disturbs your conscience. Overall well worth the time.

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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.

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