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A short with a queer touch and a universal story
"Each person who passes through our lives is unique. They always leave a little of themselves and take a little of us with them. There will be those who will take a lot, but there will not be those who will leave us nothing. This is evident proof that two souls do not meet by chance", Jorge Luis Borges.'The Stranger' is a drama that addresses a chance encounter between a young university student and a stranger with whom he seems to create a deep bond, and whose presence attracts him spontaneously. Likewise, the short film portrays the chemistry in relationships, and allows us to observe a series of behavioral and physical manifestations that show the existence of a deep affinity between both.
The protagonist of this story is Him, played by Cheerafat Keowlek in his acting debut, a lonely and shy student from the province, who, with a camera in his hands, arrives at the emblematic Lumphini Park, in the Thai capital, to carry out a university project. Bath (Pongrak Chulanon) walks through the place, known for playing a supporting role in the 2021 series 'Loveless Society', who on this occasion plays a young worker, somewhat older, who has been waiting for a long time for his girlfriend to finish the workday to take it to her house.
The encounter with a stranger guides the protagonist of this story to a place equally unknown to him, full of doubts and uncertainties, but also well-being, joys and emotions.
The film begins when two strangers exchange a couple of words. The plot begins in that brief one-on-one conversation in which the characters, uncomfortable, measure distances and points in common, establishing a development that determines the plot of the next 22 minutes. The truth is that the interactions bring emotions that will not allow us to leave our seats, and from minute zero we fall in love with the two protagonists, waiting for their frugal meeting to lead them to embark on a romantic love story.
I like how the characters get carried away by the moment, leaving their lives on hold, and somehow ignoring the objective of why they are there, giving themselves over to the other person and the advancement of the plot brought about by their meeting.
'The Stranger' tells of an awakening towards friendship, but it could also be towards something much deeper, when a young man realizes that he is attracted to the stranger who sat next to him on the shores of a city lake, after reaching him a few lost hearing aids.
The short film, written and directed by Pipat Wattanapanit, director of 'Loveless Society', also tells us about the search for trust, security, shelter, understanding and complicity in a stranger whom we may never see again.
Based on the film 'The Stranger', by Miranda, the script is concise and all the dialogues, although quite simple, well establish the closure of the audiovisual production on how the two protagonists relate to each other in their brief meeting.
The performances are correct and complement the idea that the protagonists create a bond that could be the prelude to a beautiful friendship and, why not, a love relationship. The two characters embody their roles and well convey the emotions and discomfort present at the beginning of the meeting, with Cheerafat Keowlek acting as a reserved young man who little by little opens up to the nobility and delicacy of a stranger who catches his attention a special way, and Pongrak Chulanon as a relaxed, optimistic, self-confident individual, but with an aura of mystery that equally captivates the viewer.
It is a pleasure to see the two actors interact, that their different personalities collide and convincingly show the attraction through curiosity, non-verbal language, contact, including visual contact, the fluttering of pheromones to have a feeling.
The production is well shot, making good use of location work and different angles, with powerful images, photographed by Pratchaya Pethwisit. Each scene integrates well with the other, giving the film a nice flow from the first frame to the last.
The soundtrack deserves special mention. The music is written and produced by Sarakorn Rujirawannakorn, whose main theme is titled "Stranger", a song performed by actor Pongrak Chulanon. Well chosen, it also does a great job of making transitions between different scenes and recreating the feelings and emotions that overcome the protagonists.
The narrative is presented as a clear vision with a great flow that will keep the viewers engrossed till the end.
The director is a talent that must be paid attention to and followed in his future productions.
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A moving look at the challenges and triumphs that accompany coming out
There are films that seem to be built more from emotion than from reason and that, by making a virtue of necessity, are capable of crossing borders and penetrating the depths of the heart. 'Coming Out' ('Kamingu Auto', its original name in Japanese), is clearly one of those films.The tenderness and care with which this raw story of a homosexual university student who hides his homosexuality and decides to come out of the closet to his family and friends, in addition to confessing his love to Noburo, his best friend, is treated from the first moment, supplements any possible technical or artistic deficiency.
In the end, within this story, the issue of homosexuality appears almost as a footnote and what is really underlined is that what matters is that LOVE will always remain LOVE, and no one can break that.
So anyone who tries to approach this film in search of morbidity and bait may already forget about the subject. The only thing we find here is a beautiful love story full of meaning and loaded with sensitivity.
Ang Lee had already warned us in another story that took place at the foot of the Brokeback mountains. Being oneself and loving fully becomes practically impossible when desire comes face to face with the wall of the laws of an unjust society that decides in advance what is good and what is not. Laws solely based on prejudices that use any shortcut – homosexuality, for example – to condemn what is not considered correct. A society that prejudges and takes the behavior of others so lightly can only be a sick society. Those who have suffered it in some way and in a similar situation know that a story like this could only be born from the viscera and woven with the threads of pure emotion.
In his debut as a screenwriter and director, japanese filmmaker Inudo Kazutoshi ('Crack', 2015) weaves a story in which Akami Yo, an ordinary homosexual college student who enjoys spending time with his friends, has decided to come out of the closet.
Given the insistence of his family and friends to introduce him to his girlfriend, or the demands of when he is going to get married and have children, the protagonist decides to communicate his sexual orientation to the people around him and who are important in his life, after having accepted herself with that orientation.
The film explores what is perhaps one of the most complicated and at the same time most satisfying decisions in the life of every homosexual. Tired of living pretending to be someone else and, despite feeling afraid of being rejected by others, the boy has decided to take the step, within a conservative family, a heteronormative and patriarchal country that does not recognize marriage between people of the same sex and with high levels of homophobia.
'Coming Out' is a drama with no more pretensions than those indicated in its premise, and it is clear that the director and screenwriter intends to highlight the general attitude of society regarding the issues of the Japanese LGBT community. In that sense, it seems very educational and almost preachy at times, but the purposes of making a film like this in a country like Japan is understandable.
I find the part where Yo talks to his parents the most intriguing and I can imagine that many viewers will be able to identify with it. It's a little cheesy to be brutally honest, but I find it endearing.
First he will talk to his sister because he may feel more comfortable addressing the topic with her, then with his parents and finally with Noburo, who in addition to being his best friend is the boy he likes.
The only ones who know Yo's secret are Tsuyoshi and Madame, two gay employees of the "Bb" bar where he usually goes, and a girl who frequents the same, who will encourage him to come out of the closet.
Despite its seemingly trite theme, this film tells the story honestly by showing the harsh reality of a world in which people hate or fear those who are different. For a homosexual to fit into Japanese society it seems to be necessary to hide one's true identity and repress what one really is.
Also noteworthy is the performance of the protagonist, Takahashi Naoto ('Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters'), who manages to intensely convey the feelings of a complex character.
The cast is closed by Taiji Utagawa, Fumika Ichinose and Kosuke Akiyama (TooT Aki), who in fact came out of the closet in the Japanese media.
The film was so popular that it was sold out at an advance screening at the 23rd Tokyo International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.
The viewer may like how the camera closes on the protagonist's face when he confesses to his sister, before moving on to her. Likewise, the split screen color and Yo's internal dialogue.
On the other hand, the film presents organizations and self-teaching material about the lives of LBGTQ+ people and a critique of their media representation, something significant if we take into account that it was filmed in 2014.
Despite being a film with a strong dramatic charge, it gives you the dose of energy, optimism and empowerment necessary to go out into the street and proudly shout what you feel.
The message is not only one of self-acceptance, but also of fighting for our rights, offering a moving look at the challenges and triumphs that accompany coming out and the process of accepting oneself.
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A beautiful love story full of meaning and loaded with sensitivity.
'Hello Stranger: The Movie' is one of those feature films capable of crossing borders and penetrating the depths of the heart.Both a romantic comedy and a coming-of-age film, the film follows in the footsteps of the characters from the series of the same name, released in 2020.
On this occasion, Dwein Ruedas Baltazar, the Filipino actress, editor, screenwriter and director, known for telling stories focused on identity and sexual diversity, such as 'Sila-Sila' and 'KALEL, 15', takes a position behind the cameras, while Daniel S. Saniana and Patrick R. Valencia, writer of the script for the film 'The Third Party' and the series 'Hello Stranger', come together to write the film text that will cause a roller coaster of emotions in viewers.
Xavier and Mico's relationship deepens, while the well-known gang of Young Padawans, Kookai (Vivoree Esclito), Seph (Patricio Quiroz) and Junjun (Miguel Almendras), and a large group of University students, including Crystal (Gillian Vicencio), Xavier's girlfriend, go to a writing camp, taking the virtual kilig to the real world, just in the days around Valentine's Day.
The feature film, 101 minutes long, continues where the series left off and the story develops as the film progresses, adding new characters and a new, although familiar, conflict between the two male protagonists, in a post-pandemic environment.
The flashbacks of the intervening months clearly explain why the protagonists acted in this way and how they felt motivated to carry out the actions that led Xavier and Mico to distance themselves.
Following the premise of the series, the film defends the idea of honesty, and is revealing for those who hide their true identity. With just the right drama, it exposes only honest feelings waiting to be expressed from one towards the other, seen from Xavier's public confession, almost in one of the final scenes, of being in love with another man. He had already confessed it to his parents before.
It is never easy to confess deep emotions, but the protagonists, faced with the risk of losing the person they love, find the courage to express their feelings, and thus find the freedom that a patriarchal and heteronormative society denies them, which tells you that loving someone of your same sex is not correct.
The acting of the protagonists is great. The character of Mico, played by JC Alcantara, quite emotional as an actor, will bring tears to your eyes through his pain, and laughter due to his contagious joy and overwhelming joy, with his expressive eyes, sometimes tearful, sometimes smiling, and marked dimples that furrow his face.
There is something very special about this young actor. He has the ability to access the soul of his character and really moves the audience. I hope to see more of him in film and television.
For his part, Tony Labrusca, in the role of Xavier, surpasses himself this time, giving new nuances to his character.
Both actors, with amazing chemistry that exudes genuineness, convey love outside the heteronormative bubble with such reverence and authenticity.
If in the series they had already demonstrated their histrionic skills and the comfort of working together, they take the film to another level of brilliance, far exceeding our expectations. From his comic scenes to the big, dramatic speeches, his lines are full of intensity and realism.
This is a wonderful movie. The performances are simply incredible, highlighting the role of Tony Labrusca. This young actor gives a performance so tender and realistic that it makes my heart tighten every time I watch the film.
There is a dramatic scene after the tug of war that really shows off the great performance of the two actors. And the final scene is tender and charming and the filming with the beginning of the song makes it a classic.
Mico's inseparable friends are still here and once again give him their support in the search for happiness and love. Kookai, Jujun and Shep will make you wish you had them in your life and the movie never fails to emphasize that. The audience will be treated to one of my favorite scenes: the one in which the Young Padawans play "Shageddy Shapopo" near the end, such a strong symbolism of how close the friendship of the four young people is.
The new supporting cast are seasoned characters and add color to the film.
Another important point, like a good film by Dwein Ruedas Baltazar, is the soundtrack, with the musical direction of Glenn Barit, in which its main theme stands out, "Kahit Na Anong Sabihin Ng Iba", performed by the same actors, who since It already occupies an important place among my favorite music.
Some of the songs that help us understand the moods of the characters are "She", (performed by Sab), "Pangako" (Kyle Echarry), "Dahil Sa'yo" (Inigo Pascual and Gabriel Tagadtad, "Kung Akin Ang Mundo (Christian Martinez), and "Mahal Ko O Mahal Ako" (KZ Kandingan). This last song is about who has to choose between two people.
The movie may stand alone, but I would recommend you watch the series first.
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This review may contain spoilers
From time to time you can see movies with real and controversial themes with gay characters
Homophobia, which can be expressed both manifestly and subtly, has been brought to film from various approaches and cinematography. One of the films that addresses this issue, even from its symbolic and recurring title, is 'Human Too', by Thai director and producer Supannasa Sirikuptapasan.The premiere of the LGBTIQ+ themed romantic drama took place on February 28, 2024 and is based on a script written by the filmmaker himself. With a duration of 44 minutes, Supannasa Sirikuptapasan turns the fear, rejection and hatred towards homosexual people into a film.
Nueng is a gay teenager who is the victim of bullying. The son of absent parents, he faces verbal and physical violence every day from his classmates. Likewise, the teachers and school directors, as part of a patriarchal society, deny him the necessary protection.
The story reaches its climax once Nueng is led, by the circumstances in which he lives, to consider taking his own life, with which we immerse ourselves with him in a true endless nightmare, a tunnel in which there seems to be no exit. The physical and psychological torture to which Nueng is subjected hurts us in our own flesh.
Supannasa Sirikuptapasan takes the risks and dares to show us through his film one of the cruelest and most regrettable truths of Thai reality and also, why not, universal: the homophobia that exists in a conservative country with strong patriarchal and heteronormative traditions. The film constitutes a shocking social denunciation against the discrimination and harassment that homosexuals around the world have suffered and continue to suffer at some point.
Patiphan Namsamut's performance is convincing. With his appearance, the actor gives life to a tormented boy. Key, as he likes to call himself, was very clear that he was the key for the public to perceive homophobia and the physical and mental damage it causes in those who suffer from it. His role stands out for providing humanity to the adolescent trapped between hatred, shame and misunderstanding.
For his part, Win Witthawidth Kittitheeranon, his best friend, platonic love and the only person who always protects him, plays a worthy co-star role, among other things because this young man, whom we could see in the short film 'Names', from 2023 , makes Key's work even greater, an eloquent example of support between two artists in front of the camera.
After causing her harm, Tong admits to himself his love for Nueng and without hesitation comes out to his mother. Other flights also correspond to its role, such as showing the dehumanization of those who promote homophobia.
The dramatic charge reaches a high level in each scene, especially in the moments of harassment and on the roof of the building where the also protagonist of the love triangle in the film 'Limerence', from 2023, intends to jump into the void.
Portraying sexual assault, physical and verbal violence, mental and cyberbullying, on the one hand, and the support and accompaniment that the protagonist receives from Tong and the father's acceptance of his son's homosexuality, on the other, magnifies the film, taking it beyond the coordinates of cinema of social denunciation to become a medium-length film of discovery, acceptance, coming of age, personal transformation and maturation.
The photography by Jirayu Khositwansakul, Tanayut Sawarut and Sirichai Chaisirimit contribute to narrating in detail each of the tribulations of its protagonist, from the scenes of harassment and discrimination to those of receiving the long-awaited declaration of love, from the violent initial scenes in a depressed and gray high school to the bucolic and bright of Nueng hugging Tong after defying death.
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Message to fight homophobia and internalized homophobia
Chai is a lonely young man who recently graduated. Dissatisfied in his courtship, he ends up with the girlfriend with whom his father, a man who continually dictates to him how to live, hopes that he will marry one day and have a happy life according to his criteria of happiness.One night, fed up with this situation, Chai gets drunk in a bar where he meets Raffe, a friendly stranger who takes care of him.
'Mr. Nice Guy & the Lonely Man! (ราฟกับชาย), is a Thai LGBTIQ+ themed romantic short film, released on December 22, 2023 by Wayufilm Production.
One of the benefits of the film is to introduce us to two new faces in the BL universe: those of the young Euro Pratchakorn Nokaew, the actor who plays Chai, known for taking on the role of Hope in the miniseries 'Her', and Novel Paruntawatt Wittayarutt, who precisely makes his acting debut with the role of Raffe.
Despite being a simple story and, incidentally, we will know very little about our protagonists, the tension and conflict created advance the story and keep the audience interested.
Scripted and directed by filmmaker Nicchi Nitchapoom Chaianun, the film seeks to make us reflect on parents who accept the homosexuality of everyone, except that of their children.
This is evident with Chai's father, a man who lives or works in a space where two clearly visible giant posters that allude to love between boys hang on the wall. One of them is obviously that of the film 'My Bromance' ("พี่ชาย My Bromance", Phi Chai My Bromance), from 2014, directed by Nicchi himself, in which two young people of the same sex can be seen hugging.
However, this character, played by the renowned actor Pug Raywat Peanpojjananarth, despite being inserted in an environment surrounded by homosexual images and symbolism, does not accept his son's homosexuality.
Other topics addressed are internalized homophobia and acceptance. Chai doesn't love his girlfriend and this is why he argues with his father. Thus he ends up in a visibly gay bar. He is approached by a boy who politely asks if he can keep him company. Raffe's interest is evident as he approaches Chai. After drinking with Raffe, that's the boy's name, Chai rejects him because he is gay.
Then, the conflict, organic and arising naturally from the story, is established: the two characters have opposite desires or objectives.
While Raffe seeks to establish a romantic, or at least sexual, bond, Chai, who tries to erase with alcohol the treatment his father gives him every day, hides himself behind not wanting to be linked to homosexuals.
However, being drunk, he ends up allowing himself to be driven to the young man's house, with whom he will establish a deep loving bond. Chai has overcome internalized homophobia.
What does the character still have to do after falling in love with a boy?
Meeting Raffe will also result in Chai gaining courage and confronting his father, in the most dramatic scene of the short film. And not only this, but his father finally accepts his son.
It is interesting that the film is designed to be narrated many of its scenes without the spoken word, with the support of music and moving images, specifically in some moments of interaction between the two protagonists in which they animatedly converse.
And in that, we understand Nicchi, who, from the audiovisual resources of montage and shot, opts for this structure to advance the story.
Telling a story with limited use of dialogue is a rigorous exercise in cinematographic terms. One of the main resources used in cinema is oral narration, almost always descriptive, and serves to complete what cannot be resolved by visual means.
But in the case of 'Mr. Nice Guy & the Lonely Man! There is even more, because it is a film that breaks down each moment shot by shot, in a fluid narrative and without unnecessary editing tricks. It always prevails a conception of space as a place to be explored by the eye, without cuts and with a lot of imagination.
With good performances, commendable production values and fluid narrative and scenery, 'Mr. Nice Guy & the Lonely Man' leaves us with a profound message of fighting against homophobia and internalized homophobia.
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Produced by Vidol, the Taiwanese streaming platform that has made the aforementioned BL series, the special episode brings us back to Chu Yi Ping, the emotionless university professor with few social skills who learns what it means to be human when he meets Huang Li Feng, an android caretaker who inadvertently steals her heart.
Full of romantic scenes, the special episode will take us, along with the two young people, on a trip to a playground in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, a place where lovers will visit to enjoy a tender and warm day of walking and romance.
Starring Wu Ping Chen ('Stay by My Side', 'One Afternoon', 'Komorebi'), as Yi Ping, and Huang Li Feng ('Stay by My Side', 'The Ambiguous Focus', 'Kinematics' Theory', 'The End of Our Youth') embodying Ever 9, the episode will confirm to viewers that the couple is happy and plan the future in the company of each other.
The audiovisual in turn will allow the viewer to appreciate the resumption of family ties between Yi Ping and his uncle and creator of Ever 9, after the events narrated in the series.
Directed by Lian Yu Zhe, who is also in charge of directing 'VIP Only', the episode, which lasts just over 24 minutes, also returns to Jiang Chi (Isaac Yang) and Gu Bu Xia (Hong Wei Zhe ), the protagonists of 'Stay by My Side' and 'Stay by My Side Special, who on this occasion will coincide with the main couple at the amusement park.
Based on the script written by Cai Fei Qiao, Kao Ru Ping and Nikki Hsieh, 'Anti Reset Special' has another important mission: to close the special episodes of the four Vidol BL series broadcast until today.
I only have one question: Vidol, what do you have in store for us right now?
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Love conquers homophobia and internalized homophobia
When a movie touches me, the images continue rolling in my mind after the lights go out, the frames stop.In a natural setting illuminated by sunlight, on any given school day, anywhere in the suburban geography of Chiang Mai, Thailand, a teenager is determined to accept his own homosexuality in front of others, even knowing that this step can represent for him the hatred, discrimination and intolerance of those who hate, reject and fear homosexuals.
Motor, which is the name of the young man, played by actor Jo Ronaporn Vipataputi, known for his performances in 'My Streamer', 2023, 'Boy Scouts', 2022, 'My Star' and My Star: Uncut Version', both the 2024, he has lost his fear of making himself visible, and is ready to leave behind his heterosexual image with which he has always intended to "be cool in front of others."
He has been involuntarily led to this decision by Gentle, the boy he loves, played by Fongfong Pathomporn Panfa ('My Star' and 'My Star: Uncut Version' 2024), a teenager who is clear about his sexual orientation and lives it without fear, guilt or shame, who, feeling despised by Motor, has chosen to distance himself.
Questioned by Gentle about his attitude, Motor will respond that his behavior consists simply of trying to please others. And Gentle responds: "Being cool isn't about who sits on your bike. It's up to you if you treat people differently."
Motor will not know the meaning of this answer. Motor is unaware of his internalized homophobia and denies it. Motor goes to great lengths to hide the shame and guilt of living his sexual orientation. Not wanting to make others uncomfortable, not wanting to change the image that others have of him, has led him to deny something that is part of him, something that is himself.
However, Gentle's message is clear. Nobody likes to feel stigmatized and rejected. But isn't Motor more afraid of his self-rejection? Isn't it worse to feel shame, disgust, anxiety, and even have behaviors of avoidance or denial of everything related to homosexual orientation due to fear of being rejected?
If in 'My Biker' it is Gentle who pulls the strings of dramatic tension by recognizing that he loves another man, Motor, the heterosexual teenager who in that 2023 film receives the confession of love from his friend, today expresses the conscience of those who are going to fight for their place in the world, even if this means that they have to suffer the hatred and discrimination of homophobes.
The short film, scripted and directed by Nitchapoom Chaianun (Nicchi), delves into the romantic story begun in 'เราและนาย My Biker', between a high school student who falls in love with his heterosexual best friend.
Produced by Wayufilm Production, in association with Pigeon Pictures, 'My Biker 2' contributes to changing the way society views members of the LGBTIQ+ community, especially in countries that, like Thailand, still refuse to recognize equal marriage and where discrimination against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and other members of that human community persists.
'My Biker 2' reminds us that not everything is always "so pretty", as many BL fans seem to believe, and that there is still a long fight ahead.
Works like this should appear from time to time on the screens of many lovers of the genre, so in need of shaking off so much emptiness.
After watching the series 'To Be Continued' I asked myself: "When will BL series come to reflect the real diversity of the LGBT+ community in Thai society? While dozens of BL series are produced and broadcast every year, the stigma and discrimination against LGBT+ people continue to occur. When will creators and directors of television channels understand that making homoaffective representations in BL series more nuanced and political could bring important and positive changes in a society that begins to observe its diversity through television creations?"
From 'My Biker 2' I could say that I would have liked a little more romantic interaction between the two protagonists, such as a kiss, holding hands or resting their head on the other's shoulder. I could express my dissatisfaction with the way in which the existence of a romance between them is evident before the final scene. I could state that I am not entirely pleased with the way in which the pain is shown in young people when they perceive that their romantic relationship is at mortal risk, but I prefer to remain with the conviction that 'My Biker' contributes to the struggle of LGBTIQ+ people.
It is not just the sunlight that illuminates the stage at any point in the suburban geography of Chiang Mai, on any given school day. Together with the Astro Sun, the light of hope also shines. This is its main message.
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This review may contain spoilers
It invites us to reflect on homophobia, equality and non-discrimination
'Faded' (淡淡/ Dan Dan) tells the moving story of Tian Yu, a Chinese high school student who lives a secret love relationship with Jun Zhi (Arthur Tan / Jun Yi Tan), a boy with whom he discovered his sexual orientation.Tian Yu, played by Soo Xu Zhe, a Chinese actor known for his participation in the films 'Do You Love Me as I Love You' (2020) and 'Dear Ex' (2018), is struggling with his sexual identity and finds himself caught between fulfilling his filial duty as an only child and the desire to be honest with himself and his mother (Seck Fook Yee).
Tian Yu's internal conflict worsens when the mother discovers her son's homosexuality, through a photograph that someone secretly sent to her cell phone, and confronts Jun Zhi about the relationship.
However, the mother does not act in a homophobic manner, as she is actually afraid of the repercussions of her son coming out of the closet.
Through his relationship with his mother, Tian Yu will have the courage to face his fears and insecurities, and finally admit to her his homosexuality, in addition to asking her for understanding about his desire to maintain the relationship with the boy he loves.
'Faded' is a small, amateur short film that intimately and emotionally addresses universal themes such as the search for authenticity, personal acceptance and coming of age.
With the message "Love is the same for all genders", it also invites us to reflect on homophobia, equality and non-discrimination.
Released on October 23, 2017 in China, the 15-minute film is written, directed, starring and produced by Arthur Tan Jun Yi Tan, who is also the performer and composer of the eponymous musical theme that serves as the soundtrack. to the short film.
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Miniseries in which Tar and Bom break the fourth wall and stand out for their joy and monologues
The miniseries 'You Made My Day' (Thai title ชื่นใจไปทุกวัน), also known as 'Refreshed Every Day', 'You Make My Day', 'Chuenjai Pai Tuk Wan' and 'Chuenchai Pai Thuk Wan') us brings back to the screen the actors Tar Atiwat Saengtien and Bom Tanawat Uthaikitwanit, the protagonists of the LGBT+-themed comedy-drama 'I Will Knock You', broadcast by AIS Play and Channel 3, between November 2022 and February of the following year.Those people who, like me, enjoyed the story that revolves around the romance between "Thi" Thiwa Ananbhuchai, the boy who combines his university studies with his part-time job as a tutor, and Noey Watphlu, the leader of a gang, that behind the tough guy façade there really is a noble and ridiculously stupid boy, now you will have the opportunity to see these two actors again in a miniseries of 5 episodes of about 8 minutes each.
Playing themselves, the two protagonists of 'I Will Knock You' give us a beautiful story about two friends who, driven by circumstances, fulfill a mission every day, such as preparing a surprise party for Tar's mother or traveling the city looking for Bunny, his missing dog.
In this way, the series invites us to travel with the protagonists through the streets of Bangkok, visit its temples, monuments and other sites of historical and cultural interest, appreciate Thai cuisine, navigate the rivers that cross said capital, while we learn about various interesting aspects of the Southeast Asian country.
With the aim of promoting Minzz inhalers, we could define 'You Made My Day' as a commercial advertisement turned into a miniseries. This type of television product fails to win over BL followers. However, due to the lack of budget, many creators and actors have had to accept financial proposals from companies to carry out their projects.
I like the way in which, indifferently, both actors become main narrators and break the fourth wall by addressing the viewer to introduce themselves or ask them to encourage them to carry out the missions to be carried out in each episode, causing the audience to form part of the work.
I like the way in which, indifferently, both actors become main narrators and break the fourth wall by addressing the viewer to introduce themselves or ask them to encourage them to carry out the missions in each episode, allowing the audience to become part of the work.
Likewise, I like the monologues that the characters use, now one, now the other, to define traits of their personality or so that the audience can get to know their most intimate thoughts without the need for a narrator to intervene.
Tar and Bom carry on their shoulders a miniseries full of sweetness and tenderness, in which the chemistry and charisma of the characters, the festive color palette, the music and the contagious joy of the protagonists, make us all hope that a From moment to moment the two friends become lovers.
There are still three episodes left until the conclusion of 'You Make My Day'. We will continue to support the miniseries until the end.
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This review may contain spoilers
The loss of innocence
In a confusing way, 'My Dream' explores the loss of innocence, as it follows the lives and relationships of five young people who are united by friendship, love and blood: Runway (Best, Cholsawas Tiewwanichkul), the main narrator; his friends Guide (Fame, Chawinroj Likitchareonsakul) and Yim (Ellfa, Chollatee Bampen), Doctor Good (Boom, Jiratpisit Jaravijit), Guide's brother, and Tanai (Taro, Shatree Suwanvalaikor), Runway's athletic, slightly older neighbor than him, who is in love with the young protagonist.Directed by Job Piyawat Chaithiangthum, at the time of its premiere in 2018, the series 'My Dream' meant a pleasant change within the BL universe with the mixture of youth themes, romance, fantasy and supernatural.
Runway is a brilliant high school student marked by nightmares since the death of his father. Thanks to her father's old dream catcher placed near her bed, Runway manages to fall asleep, in which a mysterious man named Dream (Fluke, Pongsapat Kankam) appears to her.
However, Runway, who lives alone with his mother, has not created an imaginary friend in his mind, but rather an imaginary lover who makes the teenager not only fantasize and invent various conversations and situations, but also leads him to confuse fantasy and reality.
Instead of helping Runway find an escape from the situation, Dream, who has been present in Runway's dreams since he was a baby, will help immerse him further and further into an imaginary world that will be difficult, if not impossible to escape.
Dream won't stop the teen from interacting with other humans, but he will be upset when Runway comes into contact with Tanai, the boy who has a crush on him. This is how Runway will ignore Tanai's declarations of love and her constant worries about him.
I don't like Tanai that she loves Runaway because "she sees him as a girl."
Runway's personality is wonderful, being the good son and good friend of his friends, always attentive to the feelings of others.
At the end of the series we will see a meeting between Runway and Dream in the real world, and thus we will have new elements about the relationship that exists between Dream and Elle and the bond between both of them with the dreamcatcher, since Elle will be Dream's companion on that occasion.
Another of the main characters is Guide. This intelligent high school student tries to help Runwai deal with both the imaginary relationship and the real world, but everything changes when he suspects that his girlfriend Yaimai (Noon, Pitchatorn Santinatornkul), has been unfaithful, and decides to separate from her afterward of three years of courtship.
At the same time, Guide begins to feel attracted to Tanai.
Regarding the character played by Noon, I don't like that she doesn't mind sharing Guide with as many men as he wants to be with, as long as she allows her to be the only girl. I don't understand these types of female characters obsessed with boys who have lost interest in girls, among other reasons because they are homosexual. Instead of accepting to be her friend, Yaimai will try again and again to get Guide to return to her side, causing tensions between the two and their family and friends.
For his part, Yim, who has lived his adolescence without complications, will suffer a sexual violation and will find supportive arms in Runway and Tanai, to whom he confesses what happened.
I don't like how Yim's rape story is handled.
Not even Tanai, because he is of legal age, suggests that he seek justice and report the sexual assault, after Yim demonstrates that he feels affected by the events. On the contrary, we see the boy being driven home by the rapist in the same car with which he was previously taken to the place of the rape, which would mean greater stress and suffering for a person after suffering a tragedy like this.
Other scenes, such as the "farewell" kiss when the rapist finally recognizes his mistake and asks for forgiveness, also make it seem like Yim suffers from Stockholm Syndrome.
It is true that Tanai hits the aggressor, but this seems insufficient punishment to me, since the possibility of the rapist acting in the same way in the future remains latent.
These events contribute to the loss of innocence of adolescents.
At the same time, the young doctor Good will be trapped in a strange supernatural relationship with a mysterious girl who turns out to have the appearance of Kafe (Anna Glucks), his old girlfriend who died in an accident five years ago, but in truth is a strange being who He changes gender depending on whether he comes into contact with the water, because when he is dry he transforms his appearance and becomes a boy named Elle (Choot, Cherdchanin Vitapinan), who is somehow connected to the dreamcatcher and the tragic outcome that cost him life to the woman that Good still has not been able to forget.
The three teenagers will lose their innocence when each one knows pain, evil, and deception. As the series progresses, Runwai, Guide and Yim will realize that things in real life are different from how they saw them.
The series also tells us about coming of age and that, coupled with the loss of trust in the world, human beings can activate their capacity for resilience based on affectivity. The more love and understanding the characters receive, the greater their ability to overcome obstacles.
After the dreamcatcher is burned, Runway wakes up from a coma and asks for Tanai. He is worried about him, but not only in the sense of knowing his state of health after the accident.
Upon arriving home and left alone with Tanai, Runway laughs at Tanai's jokes for the first time. He has lost his innocence. And Tanai asks him again the question of whether he can take care of him, in the sense of whether he can be his partner. And if until that moment he had rejected it, Runway asks him for time to think about it, a response that makes Tanai happy.
In the next dream, for the first time Runway finds Dream and her father in the same vision. Call the father. But when you look at the place where Dream was, it is no longer there. It seems that Dream has recognized that Runway has chosen to be with her father.
However, instead of moving forward, the series goes backwards, keeping Runway lost between fantasy and reality. Apparently, the creators thought to resolve this situation in a second season that never arrived, leaving all the stories unfinished.
Some viewers will point out that the series is slow in the sense of the action of the actors' and actresses' movements being slow, but I consider that the long shots and wide spaces for reflection do not make 'My Dream' boring. On the contrary, the slow rhythm has been used with precision in the Thai series, and the music and other arts related to television easily adapt to the feeling that the musical themes and the story have wanted to express.
Likewise, the static camera and silences contribute to telling the story and recreating the general feeling of the series. What is interesting is how 'My Dream' takes its time to build the stories and characters step by step.
What I enjoy most about the series is the slow and wonderful relationship that Guide and Tanais have been weaving. Fame achieves a good performance by showing how his cute character falls in love with Tanai, who in turn has been in love with Runway, but he remains obsessed with Dream.
The moments of interaction between Guide and Tanai are wonderful. Among these, the kiss on the beach or the one that the two enjoy in front of the door of Guide's house when Tanai takes him on his motorcycle and says goodbye to him at night before Yaimai's prying eyes. Or when Tanai places food on his plate while the three teenagers and Tanai's friends celebrate the latter's birthday.
It is extraordinary how the characters show the relationship that they have been developing in silence, even with their backs turned to themselves, and how they transmit anxiety, restlessness, nervousness... all those common symptoms that can surprise people in love.
I must also highlight how striking it is that the characters do not react with surprise to the supernatural phenomena they are forced to face. Accepting the supernatural without drama contributes to the development of the story, since it is evident that all the mysterious supernatural events and characters have the dreamcatcher in common.
We will be looking forward to seeing Yim and Asawin (Beer Rapeewish Sangiamwong) interact, since we only got to see it for a few minutes in the final episode. The chemistry between the two characters is undeniable. In case of a second season, I would be interested in seeing the evolution of this couple and that of Tanai and Guide.
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The viewer will be able to enjoy the intimacy that arises between the two young people in a visually beautiful way, despite both deciding to take the nascent relationship calmly.
I find the format of the show interesting, in which Miss Becky (Ameer Sanchez) presents real-life stories from members of the LGBTQ+ community each week.
I also feel that it has been beneficial to start the program with a story in which we have Hiro Shimoji as the protagonist, due to the connection that this young Filipino actor has achieved with the audience in the series 'Our Story' and 'My Story', both from 2023.
The first episode of 'Dear Miss Becky', a web series produced and directed by Xion Lim, explores the idea that true intimacy can be found in the simplicity of sleeping next to someone, transcending the physical act of sex, while alerting us about the fragility of human life.
Likewise, it gives us a message that love is more than a physical attraction and lovers must give value to the time they shared with the loved one, allowing them to keep alive the connection they were building before the occurrence of an event beyond their control will that separated them.
The episode focuses on the characters of Bryan and Alex, played by Hiro Shimoji and Thirdy Galvin, respectively. The chemistry between the actors is palpable, allowing the viewer to appreciate how the relationship deepens on screen. As the story unfolds, their interactions are conveyed through silence, abstract soundscapes, and textured cuts, creating a captivating visual experience that immerses the audience in an emotional journey.
In the same way that the character of Miss Becky fails to convince me, Xion Lim as a producer and director still fails to capture me with any of his stories. I still remember how it ruined the relationship between Zeke and Fifth, preventing this ship from being one of the most popular within the LGBT+ genre, not just in the Philippines.
If, on the one hand, the weak script fails to develop the characters, their conflicts and events well, the possibility of improvising allows genuine and authentic moments to emerge, especially in Hiro's performance.
With impressive daytime and nighttime images of the Philippine beaches, I think it is positive that Hiro has a new partner, since this actor can perform well in roles as a young homosexual in LGBT+ themed series, while Jericho Del Rosario, his co-star in 'Our Story' and 'My Story', he never seems to have been comfortable with his partner or the fanservice, which is very regrettable due to the visual attraction that the couple did not know or could not exploit.
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The young man is not forced to invent the boy of his dreams (the film does not, therefore, resort to fantastical elements), but suddenly the dream boy comes true in the form of an irresistible neighbor who has just moved into the next room, and whom he just met in the building's elevator while returning home from the market with purchases.
This film starts with a certain feeling of "déjà vu", since the young protagonist seems to be experiencing over and over again the new situation of meeting the other boy upon returning from the market, but which in reality has never happened.
In its 22 minutes divided into two parts, 'Me and Us' manages to stand on the presentation of its protagonist and his neighbor, who to make matters worse will make him feel uncomfortable in his own home, but he will not mind losing the freedom and solitude he longs for. because he does not regret having the person he loves by his side.
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This review may contain spoilers
Two young heterosexuals, a kiss that has the power to change lives and a rooftop
When we try to answer the question "what is the reason to love?", we will always be surprised to realize that there really is no reason at all. Through images, music, words and silences, 'Heart... Not a Reason', the 2020 Thai short film, describes this situation, while immersing us in the passionate and secret love relationship between two young heterosexuals, who fall in love after kissing as part of a card game in which they participate.Toey and Puth, which is the name of our narrative heroes, are two strangers who meet for the first time after their respective girlfriends, May and Ploy, meet again after some time, and decide to introduce their current partners and go on dates double.
During the course of the evening, between plates of food and drinks of alcohol, the four young people agree to participate in a card game, in which the losers must comply with the punishment imposed by the winner.
With the chemical universe behind a kiss, Toey, played by Scott Pannachai Keatkaew, an actor we know for his role as Pent in the LGBT+ themed romantic series 'What the Duck' and 'What the Duck Season 2: Final Call ', and Puth, played by Book Sikaphat, an actor and singer known for appearing in the drama 'Risk Lust Love', also experienced a very deep exchange of sensations and emotions that gave way to love. In other words: knowing each other allowed them to know themselves.
The character played by Scott conveys the image of a person with a confused heart and no confidence. In truth, Toey searches for true love, and what he has searched for so long he finally finds in Puth. He likes how Puth cares about him, pays attention to him, with specific actions such as preparing dinner for him or surprising him on his birthday with a cake. And all this causes Toey to fall in love with him even more.
For his part, Puth is one of the people who gives himself over to love completely. He can't help but fall in love with Toey. While your brain asks you to get away from him, your heart takes you once again to meet him. Puth doesn't want to hurt Ploy, and that's why he hesitates whether or not to continue his secret relationship with Toey, but he can't resist the feeling that has arisen in the center of his chest. It will be very difficult for you to end the relationship with the person you love. While your mouth says one thing, your feelings say the opposite.
However, Puth's girlfriend has also fallen in love with her friend's boyfriend.
Both actors well convey anxiety, restlessness, nervousness, euphoria... all those common and frequent symptoms in people who feel in love. While I see the characters looking at their cell phones, confident that the message is from the other, or how, shyly, they avoid each other's gaze when they meet in public at the shopping center or at the door of one of their houses, I seem to see fluttering the famous butterflies in the stomach, feeling the sweat soak their hands or listening to the beating of their hearts.
The rooftop scene is memorable, as both characters are able to express their feelings and show the incredible chemistry between the two.
The viewer will be able to see how the power of an unexpected and involuntary kiss provokes in the two young people not only that desire to kiss that has a scientific name: filemamania.
The story will surprise us by discovering that nothing is what it seems: while one thinks that they have just started a flirtation, that they feel nervous being close to each other, suddenly we will understand that between the two there is already a deep loving relationship and both they have reached the point where they debate whether it would be right to continue the romance or break up.
The good production, beautiful images, delicate editing, structured script, and a credible well-told story would only be missing a tender and melancholic song. And we have that too, because the short film, in addition to provoking reflection on how no one should be blamed when you fall in love, since no one can control your feelings and your heart, seeks to convey the real story that happened and allowed Book Sikaphat to compose the song "Hua Jai", from the Sikpat Book, which tells the story of two friends who fall in love and how the feeling that arises between them causes the change of their friendly relationship into a romantic one.
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The classic relationship: one of the members of the couple dominates and the other is dominated
Produced by Lu Po Wen and Li Yun Ming, the director and producer of the three parts of 'Ghost Boyfriend', 'River Knows Fish Heart' revolves around the romance of two high school students Situ Xiao Yu (Chinese name that translates such as "Little Fish"), a rich young man who runs away from home and pursues his dream of being a musician, and An He (literally "River"), a musical genius who is experiencing composer's block.Written and directed by Lv Bowen, the romantic, musical and youth drama with an LGBT+ theme addresses topics such as campus life, coexistence, coming of age, obsession and the power difference in a relationship in which one of one member of the couple dominates and the other is dominated.
The two enthusiastic music lovers with parental problems, played by Zhen Jia Jian and Meng Yue Chen, respectively, decide to live together after meeting at the school to which Xiao Yu has transferred after leaving his parents' home.
As they organize their lives to participate in the musical competition, a subtle and elusive feeling arises between the two of them. However, the day before the event, Xiao Yu disappears, leaving An He in an embarrassing situation, not knowing how to deal with this situation.
Despite their different personalities, between the athletic Xiao Yu with a cold smile, mysterious eyes and bad boy vibe, and the bright student with a tender, innocent and childish look An He, love arises. When Xiao Yu sees their relationship threatened, he explains his actions as follows: "I'm just a little fish in the river. It's just my human nature to protect my habitat from being invaded."
Needing to move after disagreements with his father, Xiao Yi enters the house and, above all, An He's life. Soon the visitor will leave the living room couch and take up space on the shy teenager's bed, despite the fact that he repeatedly rejects his seductive but dominant roommate.
Using old school kinky and problematic tropes such as dominant boy and dominated boy, 'River Knows Fish Heart' touches on themes of communication, consent and self-acceptance.
The film enters 'Addicted' territory, only this time with the muscular, seme athlete who falls madly in love with the tender, nerdy uke and decides to take charge of his life and protect him even from his mother, who has never heard his son sing or play. the piano or the guitar.
The character of Zheng Jia Jian is not innocent at all: with his 185 centimeters of height, an athletic and slightly bossy body, on the other hand he has plenty of inspiring vibes that find resonance in a contemporary youth who feels identified by making them dream. Furthermore, his dominant traits and the way he penetrates An He's life until he breaks him really makes the viewer want to be in the position of the dominated boy.
Lovers of the genre will enjoy the most daring scene in 'River Knows Fish Heart', in which we can see how Xiao Yu forces his roommate to kiss him in the bathroom, erotically whispering: "I want to possess every inch of your skin." Even more sensual is that the film offers us scenes of hot kisses and tender and very well-done sexual interactions.
An He's cold, reserved, and even hostile demeanor soon transforms into that of someone warm, sensitive, and friendly. He is a tsundere in all the rules. For his part, the seme Xiao Yu is very aggressive; so the dynamic between the two directly enters another territory, dubcon or "dubious consent", since consent on An He's part is not completely absent, but the situation has certain elements that in real life could be interpreted as a rape.
The relationship between An He and Xiao Yu is the classic blouse and pants combination. Or put another way, it exposes the nature of 'yin and yang' style. When the two energies complement and balance each other is when they achieve a harmonious and happy relationship.
In order to bring to life this cliché story of a bad boy who overpowers the innocent high school student, the director summons two idols admired by the younger generation in China: Meng Yue Chen and Zhen Jia Jian.
Both actors were born to play this type of cute young men who make up the ideal couple for fans who enjoy gay romance.
The first is a musician, Dai dance dancer and actor who in the world of acting became known precisely with this film, but has subsequently participated in the dramas 'Capture Love', 'In Your Heart', the documentary ' Capture Love Special', always playing queer characters, and the film 'Yin Yuan', among other works.
'River Knows Fish Heart' is a film in which Men Yue Chen can, in addition to demonstrating his histrionic qualities, expose his skills as a singer and musician: he plays the acoustic guitar and lets us hear his beautiful and well-pitched voice.
After the premiere of 'River Knows Fish Heart', Meng Yue Chen becomes an Internet phenomenon and is considered by the public to be China's new (gay) girlfriend for his tender look, his fair skin and his beautiful features.
The passionate and moving acting skills of Zhen Jia Jian, who among the youth audience of his country has earned the title of being the personification of attractive and sexy, allows us to remember him for playing Cheng Yue in 'Love Is Not Easy to Have' or Xiao Jie in the drama 'French Love', both with LGBT+ themes.
Audiences will find it difficult to forget two other lines said by his character: "I feel like my dream is not important because I found someone more important than my dream," referring to having left behind his passion for music after finding the love of his life in Little An He, or "This river doesn't need that fish, but without it there isn't much fun."
At the same time, the film also marks the debut of Han Jing Cheng in the role of Wang Zheng. The viewer will remember him for being the protagonist of the films 'Ghost Boyfriend 2' and 'Love Is Not Easy to Have', and the drama series 'Capture Lover', all with LGBT+ themes.
Due to the success of the film, after playing Xiao Yi, Zheng Jia Jian then manages to play another homosexual character in 'Love is not Easy to Have', another famous Chinese film, in which these last two actors will join. Along with Han Jing Cheng, Zheng Jia Jian plays another gay couple with a lot of chemistry and visual beauty that steals sighs from Chinese and international audiences.
According to the director, to represent this story much more clearly, he tried to demonstrate the connection between love and dreams by making the protagonists experience the contradictory mentality of their characters, expecting them to carry out the shyness of teenage romance.
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An exploration of the growing drag culture within Taiwan's queer landscape
The 2021 short film 'Best Sisters Forever' revolves around the elegant Xue Rong / "Snow" (Heng-Chi Kuo) and the fun and frivolous A Du / "Cavon" (Soda Voyu), two gay "sisters" best friends, who after having a heated discussion about issues of promiscuity, end up distancing themselves from each other.A tragic event allows the reunion of the two "sisters" a decade later. Knowing that their days together are numbered, the couple embarks on an adventure in hopes of recapturing lost opportunities and creating happy memories. Along the way, they make important discoveries about life, love, friendship, and family. Promises are kept and a long lost dream comes true.
The year after releasing 'Your Name Engraved Herein', a film shortlisted for four awards at the 57th Golden Horse Awards 2020, Liu Kuang Hui (Patrick Liu) offers in 'Best Sisters Forever' an authentic vision of the drag sisterhood in that Asian island.
Associated with GagaOOLala, the Taiwanese director explores the growing drag culture within Taiwan's queer landscape, and reflects on questions of identity, empowerment, bonds and brotherhood within the flamboyant Taiwanese community.
To this end, the film features original performances by some of Taiwan's most famous drag queens at Taipei's most iconic LGBT venue, the historic Red House in Ximending District.
"What has always fascinated me is this special sense of bond or brotherhood that exists between members of the gay community but is rarely talked about or discussed in the mainstream. "So, this is where I wanted to play with this idea of 'sisterhood' and create a story around it specifically in the context of drag," Liu says when premiering the work.
With the intention of visualizing 'drag' and brotherhood within the community, Liu calls on two of the most important actors in the Taiwanese entertainment industry: Heng-Chi Kuo and Soda Voyu.
The first is a singer, director and composer who makes his official screen debut as an actor in this film. In addition to acting, Heng-Chi Kuo performs the main theme of the film: "Don't Rub Salt on the Wound", a song composed in 1999 for A-Mei, the singer considered a gay icon and defender of Taiwanese indigenous and LGBT+ rights throughout the Mandarin-speaking world.
For his part, Soda Voyu is an outstanding actor, winner of the Golden Bell Award, with an extensive filmography, which includes the film 'Tale of the Lost Boys', from 2017, the drama 'Magic Showdown', from that same year, 'iHero 2' and 'Your Name Engraved Herein'.
Thanks to 'Best Friends Forever', both actors play drag characters in a film for the first time, an experience that both together describe as "very entertaining but challenging, a special project that was worth pursuing, especially for its deep cause and the "so necessary drag defense."
Best Sisters Forever is the third installment of GagaOOLala's 2021 anthology 'Queer Up The Volume', a collection of original queer stories, each with their own title track and music video, aiming to portray the different facets of the community. contemporary queer.
The Queer Up The Volume project also includes other titles, such as the second season of GagaOOLala's successful Thai-Taiwanese BL co-production series, 'Call It What You Want 2', by Anusorn Soisa-ngim (Aam); 'Light', from director Adiamond Lee and starring Jed Chung, Max Liu and Ding Ning; the Taiwanese BL drama 'Dark Blue and Moonlight', and 'Fragrance of the First Flower', the lesbian miniseries by director Angel Teng (Bao Bao), winner of the first prize of the GagaOOLala Pitching Sessions 2020.
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