Almost there... Needs more restless tension
At its core, this is a coming-of-age story between two young men. Of desire and denial, and whether there is something more to sustain the initial attraction beyond a summer holiday.
The visuals are equally beautiful and dreamy but there are some differences from Call Me By Your Name. The pace is slightly more upbeat and less drawn-out compared to the Western version, and the dialogue is obviously adjusted for the Chinese context.
But it lacks the one thing that makes Call Me By Your Name so raw and real. It’s restless tension. What CMBYN does so well is that it visualises restless tension in young romances that are both clandestine and unstable.
The characters cling onto the need to be seen and to be noticed by the person they like. In their absence, they are filled with anxious energy, eager for the person to return again. But the moment they inhabit the same space, an awkward tension permeates.
Are we just this, or can we be something more?
More reviews: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2025/04/21
The visuals are equally beautiful and dreamy but there are some differences from Call Me By Your Name. The pace is slightly more upbeat and less drawn-out compared to the Western version, and the dialogue is obviously adjusted for the Chinese context.
But it lacks the one thing that makes Call Me By Your Name so raw and real. It’s restless tension. What CMBYN does so well is that it visualises restless tension in young romances that are both clandestine and unstable.
The characters cling onto the need to be seen and to be noticed by the person they like. In their absence, they are filled with anxious energy, eager for the person to return again. But the moment they inhabit the same space, an awkward tension permeates.
Are we just this, or can we be something more?
More reviews: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2025/04/21
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