2
7
This review may contain spoilers
A clever little drama about the struggles of gay men in China
Before I talk about anything else: Yes, this drama is too short. Yes, it couldn't develop anything the way it deserved. Yes, the acting was awkward at times. Yes, the sound and the editing leave a lot to be desired.
And yet! This little drama is almost a stroke of genius in a very special way.
We know that Chinese censorship doesn't allow any positive on-screen depiction of homosexuality (which has only got worse since this drama has been published), and that their government and society as a whole in China is openly homophobic.
So, of course people exüress their amazement at how this little drama got away with this much -- almost kisses, sexual innuendo, two men sharing a bed, hugging, planning their life together. And they are right to do so.
The stroke of genius though, lies not in what was or was not cut from the final product -- it is in the premise itself. And I have no idea how it got through.
The concept of the "Deluded" themselves is just a thinly disguised metaphor for homosexual people. If you think about how people in the drama talked about the Deluded -- the insults, the fear -- and how Deluded have to hide their very own nature, especially if they are celebrities, and whenever they are exposed, their career prospects will be over and friends and colleagues will desert them.
Lu Lin's story matches a possible journey of a gay celebrity almost beat for beat. His fear of discovery, the press that's hounding him, the boss who's exploiting his weak spot -- but also the few allies who could stand by his side. (And if you listen to the aide and the little sister? They talk exactly as well-meaning but uninformed allies of LGBTQ+ would in real life.)
If we want to stretch the metaphor a bit -- and this is where I'm not sure if this is still the makers' intention -- Jiang Yifeng's inability to feel the world (i.e. make a real connection between himself and his feelings) could also be seen as a metaphor for a man deep in the closet, who is separated from what he really is, what he really feels, who is numb to himself and the world.
Lu Lin and Jiang Yifeng's love story parallels love stories of gay men in oppressive societies around the world, and as soon as I saw it, I could not unsee it. For me, with this metaphor in mind, a lot of what happened made perfect sense, and it was extremely easy to fill in the gaps myself.
That this thinly disguised piece of art about the struggles of gay men in China got through censorship is a miracle.
So.
Is it good?
It's a Chinese censored BL amateur production, so of course not. There's a great idea that should have been given a better chance.
Did I like it?
Oh, yes! The basic idea of the "Deluded" metaphor is great, and it's very obvious that there was a great deal of passion on the side of the team.
Would I recommend it?
Only to those who are willing to overlook the poor production value and who are able to recognize the hidden story.
And yet! This little drama is almost a stroke of genius in a very special way.
We know that Chinese censorship doesn't allow any positive on-screen depiction of homosexuality (which has only got worse since this drama has been published), and that their government and society as a whole in China is openly homophobic.
So, of course people exüress their amazement at how this little drama got away with this much -- almost kisses, sexual innuendo, two men sharing a bed, hugging, planning their life together. And they are right to do so.
The stroke of genius though, lies not in what was or was not cut from the final product -- it is in the premise itself. And I have no idea how it got through.
The concept of the "Deluded" themselves is just a thinly disguised metaphor for homosexual people. If you think about how people in the drama talked about the Deluded -- the insults, the fear -- and how Deluded have to hide their very own nature, especially if they are celebrities, and whenever they are exposed, their career prospects will be over and friends and colleagues will desert them.
Lu Lin's story matches a possible journey of a gay celebrity almost beat for beat. His fear of discovery, the press that's hounding him, the boss who's exploiting his weak spot -- but also the few allies who could stand by his side. (And if you listen to the aide and the little sister? They talk exactly as well-meaning but uninformed allies of LGBTQ+ would in real life.)
If we want to stretch the metaphor a bit -- and this is where I'm not sure if this is still the makers' intention -- Jiang Yifeng's inability to feel the world (i.e. make a real connection between himself and his feelings) could also be seen as a metaphor for a man deep in the closet, who is separated from what he really is, what he really feels, who is numb to himself and the world.
Lu Lin and Jiang Yifeng's love story parallels love stories of gay men in oppressive societies around the world, and as soon as I saw it, I could not unsee it. For me, with this metaphor in mind, a lot of what happened made perfect sense, and it was extremely easy to fill in the gaps myself.
That this thinly disguised piece of art about the struggles of gay men in China got through censorship is a miracle.
So.
Is it good?
It's a Chinese censored BL amateur production, so of course not. There's a great idea that should have been given a better chance.
Did I like it?
Oh, yes! The basic idea of the "Deluded" metaphor is great, and it's very obvious that there was a great deal of passion on the side of the team.
Would I recommend it?
Only to those who are willing to overlook the poor production value and who are able to recognize the hidden story.
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