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The tractors were just okay
Well I don't know what the hell I just watched but it was mildly entertaining I suppose.Let me start off by saying that this show is pretty much entirely inoffensive (apart from some completely unnecessary remarks steeped in colourism, we absolutely could have done without those) but after watching it, all I was left with was the fleeting awareness of having grown some two odd hours older.
The dynamic between the two leads has a lot of potential that the show, in my humble opinion, entirely fails to live up to.
Yul is a man living out a perfectly standard K-drama life with all the emotions and pitfalls this encompasses, while literally everybody else around him (perhaps with the exception of Inseo) is clearly inhabiting a muppet movie world; over-the-top emotions, tongue-in-cheek silliness, visual gags and all.
Now, this concept can be, and very much has been, used to great effect. But here, all it does is create a strange tonal dissonance that permeates through the entire story.
The emotional moments have less impact because they are often directly followed or even interrupted by some off-colour joke or another. The deliberately humourous moments are harder to enjoy because, compared to the genuine emotion of some other scenes, they seem somewhat hollow.
Which is not to say that there is nothing to enjoy about the show at all! There are several sincerely funny and charming moments and the two main characters' relationship, when they are allowed to be alone together, is actually very sweet, and the performances, whatever my personal opinion, are all objectively quite strong.
I do understand why people enjoy this series and I certainly won't discourage anyone from watching it. I just also think there's a lot of better ways to spend a couple of hours.
So, if you think this specific brand of silliness will work for you, go ahead and watch Love Tractor.
But if not, then I'd probably give it a pass and watch Restart After Come Back Home instead, to scratch that countryside romance itch.
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An absolute delight from start to finish
Where cozy, food-centered romances are concerned, there's just no beating Japan - and with this movie they've proved it once again.The music and cinematography work together to create an atmosphere of warmth and comfort which serves as a perfect backdrop for this gentle slice-of-life tale of two long-time friends' first tentative steps towards shifting their relationship into something more romantic.
The characters are deeply endearing and lovable, their chemistry is so natural and comfortable, and they're both just so plain charming that every second of seeing them on screen is pure joy.
In a story that is as heavily character driven as this one, the connections between the characters have to feel real and grounded and this film absolutely nails it. I'm a complete sucker for realistic depictions of (queer) friendship in general and rarely have I seen them portrayed as perfectly as I have here.
I highly recommend this movie to anyone looking for a tender, wholesome slice-of-life story with lots of good food and friendship, and to any queer folks out there looking for a new comfort watch.
Fair warning - this movie is the first part of a longer story and therefore very light on the explicit romance, so if you're looking for something more romance-heavy, maybe give this one a pass until the next part of the story is released.
Personally though, I really do consider this movie a masterpiece in its own right and I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel.
Meanwhile I'll just have to pass the time by recreating some of Aki's recipes :)
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Not overly delicious, but still entirely edible
If I had to describe this show in one word I would go with "harmless". It's a sweet enough story without much bite (pun intended) but with some quite lovely moments. And that's about it.Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike this show, it's perfectly fine. But personally I just didn't get very much out of it.
The actors did a good job and the editing and music were solid. The chemistry between the leads was good as well and I did quite enjoy some of the supporting characters.
I just also felt like there was something lacking. Sure, there were plot holes, but nothing particularly egregious or bothersome.
I occasionally had some trouble understanding certain characters' motivations, but liked them all well enough. Some of the conflicts were a bit ridiculous, but they weren't drawn out unnecessarily and over all the characters communicated with each other quite well.
I couldn't tell you exactly which of these things reduced my enjoyment of the story so much. Maybe it's all of them together.
But there are quite a lot of people who enjoy this show and I can understand why. It's a sweet, low-stakes, low-angst romance between to people who seem to genuinely care about each other and aren't afraid to show casual physical affection.
There are also a few novel aspects to the story such as the dreaded "love rival" who turns out not to be much of a rival at all and instead turns into a supportive friend.
But above all, the show is incredibly easy to watch. It's easy to understand, easy to like, and easy on the eyes.
You can blaze through it in a breezy 3.5 hours and, if nothing else, walk away with a feeling of not entirely having wasted that time.
So, while I personally didn't get much enjoyment out of the series and certainly wouldn't rank it among the greats of food-centered romances (of which I am usually quite a big fan), I would still recommend giving it a watch.
Maybe you'll find yourself vaguely disappointed, but maybe you'll enjoy it quite a lot. Either way, it's worth a shot.
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A story about people who often go unheard
This movie is a very rare gem indeed. It's not often that you get to see Own-Voices productions of stories about queer people or deaf people and here you get both woven into one, all based on the real life experiences of the director.Because of this, the film feels undeniably real in a way which I really enjoyed.
The actors' performances are fantastic for the most part, and the sound design is phenomenal. It fully immerses the viewer in the world that its deaf characters inhabit while still being entirely accessible for those not hard of hearing, it really is masterfully done.
I also really loved how much the story focused on the importance of community and support, of found family in a way.
Now, will some viewers, such as myself, who enjoy certain privileges in their lives find this movie boring? Unfortunately, yes.
As someone who is lucky enough to be able to live openly and without fear and whose coming out was fully supported by a host of loving family members and friends, I couldn't relate to a lot of the struggles the characters faced.
But that in no way diminishes the film's value or should prevent anyone from watching it.
For anyone struggling with societal pressures due to their identity, for anyone who has to face rejection and recrimination for being who they are, for anyone grieving the "normal" happy life they haven't gotten to live yet, this movie will undoubtedly mean a lot. It's a promise that there is light at the end of the tunnel, the reassurance that, no matter what, you are not alone.
This is an incredibly important and meaningful message and for that alone I consider this movie well worth watching.
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A quiet story about self-acceptance
I liked this one. It's not really a romantic short film (although there is a very sweet romance) it's more just an exploration of the difficulties of coming out, coming to terms with your past and your current identity, and finding peace with yourself no matter what others might think of you.It manages to get this message across very clearly despite its short run time, and though the set-up and plot may be simplistic, they work well for the story that is being told.
The acting and writing are also quite strong which helps the whole thing feel more grounded and realistic.
I think this story is something a lot of queer folk can relate to in one way or another and for that alone I'd say it's worth a watch.
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The best kind of catharsis
Is this short ridiculous? Over the top? On the nose? Why yes, yes it is. And for once I truly mean that as a compliment.This film has a very clear message and that is: Queer women are done with your shit.
The endless struggle to find funding for queer media, the non-stop fight for monetization, the never-ending stream of straight men trying to lay claim to female sexuality... no more.
Most of the time the fight for progress is a slow, drawn-out process of fostering good-will and understanding but sometimes, just sometimes, it's an actual fight. Sometimes you have to stand up and very literally kick your opponent directly in the nuts... and then make out with your girlfriend about how cool that was just now.
This film is a giant, joyous middle finger towards anything and anyone that has ever kept queer women down and I for one enjoyed the hell out of it.
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Strongberry does it again
Seriously though, how do they keep doing that, it's almost spooky at this point.This is another absolutely delightful little short with Strongberry's signature blend of great acting, tight editing, and a goddamn adorable story. It takes the simply premise of confessing to your crush and portrays it in such a charming, realistic way you can't help but grin and reminisce because, yeah, we've all been there in one way or another.
If you enjoy other Matchbox productions you'll almost certainly like this as well. And if you're unfamiliar with their work, welcome, you're about to discover a whole host of treasures. And this one is certainly a great place to start.
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We deserve to walk in the sun
This one got to me alright, it got me right in my queer little heart.It's such a beautiful, tender, deeply realistic story about two people who love each other but who are boxed in by invisible social barriers. It sends a loud and clear message about equal rights and the challenges queer people and specifically queer couples are confronted with in everyday life. It addresses these topics unflinchingly but nevertheless with great sensitivity.
There are no tragic deaths to underscore the suffering queer people have to go through, instead the characters get to stand up and face their troubles directly. They get to protest and fight and lend each other strength by simply loving one another.
It's a simple tale of resilience and love, expertly told.
If there really is a sequel coming, I can't wait to see more.
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They did it again!
I've been on an absolute binge of these shorts lately and every time I think "Surely this time it'll but just okay, surely this time I won't enjoy it as much" and every time I'm proven wrong.The production value of this little film is excellent, as always, and I really liked the music.
I also think that some full-length dramas could take notes on romantic and sexual chemistry from this, very much censored, movie. I mean at this point the subtext is not so much subtext and more just actual text, it's really fun to see just how much these productions toe the line of what the censors will allow.
In short I'd recommend watching this. It's four minutes of pure fun and sometimes that's all you need.
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Short, sweet, and to the point
Man, but I wish it had been longer. Usually I'm not one to bemoan the shortness of, well, short films, but with this one I really would have liked to see just a bit more.It's a visually stunning little movie with the tarot and fortune telling theme woven into the story line flawlessly.
I really liked how it serves as a vessel to deliver the movie's core message: coming out is hard. Love is hard. But often it's worth fighting for.
That being said, I really wanted to see what the reactions were to the coming out. It seems like such an essential part of the story and it felt a bit dissatisfying for it to just be completely dropped like this at the end.
I'd still say it's worth watching this film. It's beautiful, it's sweet, and it doesn't shy away from letting it's protagonists kiss like so many other shows and movies do.
All in all, this was five minutes well spent.
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Short, sweet, worth a watch
This is simply a lovely little roommate romance condensed into roughly 15 minutes.It's a bit rough around the edges but it has that shoe-string budget charm going for it so I didn't really mind.
The characters are surprisingly easy to get attached to and the script, while it may not be a masterpiece of story-telling, gives them distinct personalities and quirks.
I also just thought quoting Chinese dramas at each other was cute, I'm easy to please, so what.
Until we get more actual full-length dramas starring queer women, these shorts will have to do and this one certainly makes the long wait easier to bear. Go give it a shot if you're curious, you might just like it.
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The Young Master and the Tea-Picking Girl
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Five minutes of just vibes
Alright so it doesn't really have a plot to speak of and is fairly clearly simply a teaser for a drama that will never be made, but who cares? Not me, that's for sure.This is literally just five minutes of beautiful visuals set to some lovely music which doesn't tell a real story but does show us a brief glimpse into the lives of two characters with a truly surprising amount of romantic chemistry.
The costumes and scenic location are also lovely.
Just watch it, it's short, it's sweet, and it's enough to make you dream of more.
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A little rough around the edges but still very enjoyable
I liked this one. It's a very simple, short story about reconnecting with someone who used to be important to you and is as such pretty much universally relatable.The audio and editing are a bit choppy and the acting is a little rough at times, but given the short runtime they really managed to pace the movie well and tell the story they wanted to tell.
If you don't like the unpolished vibe of indie productions, this won't be for you, but if you're willing to overlook some superficial flaws I think you'll really enjoy this sweet little tale of young but enduring love.
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A gentle, understated film about humans endlessly, fiercely screaming and clawing for love
That's exactly what this movie is to me, a silent scream, a completely inaudible roar for love and happiness - and it is absolutely, unrestrainedly, beautifully joyous.I love nothing more than quiet, profound explorations of the human condition (forgive my use of that pretentious phrase) so I already knew I was going to like this movie, but I had no idea just how much I'd love it.
It has fantastic writing, stellar performances from the entire cast, and the editing as well as the soundtrack (or more often the lack thereof) perfectly underscore the characters and their emotions and lend the film its distinctive, quiet atmosphere that lets it tell its story so effectively.
But more importantly than all that, this movie has things to say. About being human. About being happy. About love.
And is says these things in so many tender little moments that all build up to a big thundering shout, until every frame seems to scream about reaching for joy and happiness, about the clawing fight and the simple reaching out, about what it means to love someone, anyone at all, and why it is vital for us squishy, brittle, hungry humans to experience that love as the transformative force that it is and let it makes us bigger, and stronger, and kinder. About finding beauty and care and kindness in other people and allowing them to change you, but also about the kindness of being uncompromisingly yourself.
I could spend hours waxing lyrical about the wild joys and endless griefs of being human and why media exploring those themes is so valuable, and this movie certainly gave me ample opportunity for it, but I don't think that's necessary.
All I need to say is that if you like movies with authentic, believable characters, respectful yet unflinching exploration of queer topics, and heavy themes of love and joy and forgiveness and the journey the search for these things takes each of us on, then this movie is without a doubt perfect for you.
And if that doesn't sound like it'd appeal to you, I'd encourage you to watch it anyway; genuinely. There is so much to love about this film, so many wonderful ways it could be viewed, I think you might just end up loving it for a myriad of reasons that I didn't even touch on.
This is one of those films that makes your life slightly better for having seen it, so go watch it and give it the chance to do just that.
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Queer women, queer friendship, and a whole lot of charm
Finally, I've found it! A drama centering around queer women and their lives and actually has enough episodes to develop a story and allow the audience to really get to know the characters.I really love this show. It's got great writing, amazing acting, and a sweet, uplifting story with an emphasis on how important community and safe spaces are not just for queer folk in general, but for queer women in particular.
You can absolutely tell that this show was written by queer people for queer people and I love it for that alone.
The story focuses on friendship rather than romance which I personally loved, but there are several tooth-rottingly sweet romantic subplots as well for all the rom-com lovers out there.
There really isn't all that much left I could say other than: This show is amazing, it's wonderfully charming, and just a plain joy to watch. I can't recommend it enough, go watch it already.
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