This review may contain spoilers
Unexpected but also FRUSTRATION?
The backstory of stumbling across this was thinking it was reality TV about dance competition...
Oh boy how wrong was I - but can't complain, of course.
I went into the trailer expecting reality tv > then assuming it was a trope of "let's use each other but we end up falling in love along the way"
To an extent, yes. But the story and characters ended up being so so much more than that. It was this aspect that had heavy influence on the final rating. And it's these kinds of stories that toss me in the unexpected end up being the most memorable.
I had to sit with my thoughts for a while before writing this review, and the last time I did this was Method (that itself is a rabbit hole).
The beauty of this movie is not solely for the romance that YES, we BL enthusiasts swarmed to like moths to light.
It was the subtle artistic choices by the director that couldn't be overlooked - such as for example, there were multiple shots of Sugiki being in the darkness when engaging in conversation with Suzuki, who remained in the light in some way (the studio, where he stood at the mezzanine, looking down at Suzuki).
Sugiki finally smiling at the end despite losing when he was stoic as a bamboo pole throughout the film.
The nuanced touches spoke volumes about their characters and particularly Sugiki's obsession with perfection, that everything else related to the human touch, is viewed as a distraction. Love is such the case for him, that he doesn't realise he remains in darkness, despite the prestige he has earned in the ballroom world.
To put it plainly, there is just overwhelming layers of depth that begs for a rewatch.
It goes without saying the chemistry between the two leads just sparked upon the first practice session. The tension in the struggles between ego, power, and control is so palpable it could drive one mad sitting through it. What started as a cutthroat masterclass became almost bregrudingly, a waltz of flowering emotions both are so adamant to NOT admit but continued to partake. The power dynamic, facial expressions of yearning and reluctance were delightful to watch.
I think what was surprising (as someone who hadn't read the manga) was the reasoning behind the romance. It was more than the bond through partnership that was expected reading the premise. It was Suzuki seeing Sugiki's pain and obsession for the one thing he believed would be his salvation, the need for perfection that was crippling him inside out. It was Sugiki watching Suzuki dance and realised the latter had something he yearned but couldn't understand.
10Dance just felt like watching a variation of Sherlock and Watson, ruthless machine and a compassionate doctor, both filling in the gaps where the other lacked, but ultimately, it was acceptance and understanding without dialogue, that truly made me realise how beautifully executed this movie is.
Honestly BLs are just getting better. This is no exception. But the ending is surely a perfect opening for a sequel...? TT
Oh boy how wrong was I - but can't complain, of course.
I went into the trailer expecting reality tv > then assuming it was a trope of "let's use each other but we end up falling in love along the way"
To an extent, yes. But the story and characters ended up being so so much more than that. It was this aspect that had heavy influence on the final rating. And it's these kinds of stories that toss me in the unexpected end up being the most memorable.
I had to sit with my thoughts for a while before writing this review, and the last time I did this was Method (that itself is a rabbit hole).
The beauty of this movie is not solely for the romance that YES, we BL enthusiasts swarmed to like moths to light.
It was the subtle artistic choices by the director that couldn't be overlooked - such as for example, there were multiple shots of Sugiki being in the darkness when engaging in conversation with Suzuki, who remained in the light in some way (the studio, where he stood at the mezzanine, looking down at Suzuki).
Sugiki finally smiling at the end despite losing when he was stoic as a bamboo pole throughout the film.
The nuanced touches spoke volumes about their characters and particularly Sugiki's obsession with perfection, that everything else related to the human touch, is viewed as a distraction. Love is such the case for him, that he doesn't realise he remains in darkness, despite the prestige he has earned in the ballroom world.
To put it plainly, there is just overwhelming layers of depth that begs for a rewatch.
It goes without saying the chemistry between the two leads just sparked upon the first practice session. The tension in the struggles between ego, power, and control is so palpable it could drive one mad sitting through it. What started as a cutthroat masterclass became almost bregrudingly, a waltz of flowering emotions both are so adamant to NOT admit but continued to partake. The power dynamic, facial expressions of yearning and reluctance were delightful to watch.
I think what was surprising (as someone who hadn't read the manga) was the reasoning behind the romance. It was more than the bond through partnership that was expected reading the premise. It was Suzuki seeing Sugiki's pain and obsession for the one thing he believed would be his salvation, the need for perfection that was crippling him inside out. It was Sugiki watching Suzuki dance and realised the latter had something he yearned but couldn't understand.
10Dance just felt like watching a variation of Sherlock and Watson, ruthless machine and a compassionate doctor, both filling in the gaps where the other lacked, but ultimately, it was acceptance and understanding without dialogue, that truly made me realise how beautifully executed this movie is.
Honestly BLs are just getting better. This is no exception. But the ending is surely a perfect opening for a sequel...? TT
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