This docuseries is a lively and personal look at what it’s like to be queer in New Zealand today. Hosted by the really charming Aniwa Whaiapu Koloamatangi, it feels like you're being invited into all these different parts of the rainbow community that usually don't get much time on TV. The first season is made up of six episodes, each about 30 minutes long, and they all dive into different topics like family, faith, and the specific experience of being Takatāpui, which is the Māori queer identity. It does a really nice job of balancing the tough history of the LGBTQ+ community with a lot of modern-day happiness and pride. The show starts with Aniwa traveling all over the place to meet folks from every walk of life to see how their background and identity mix together. In the first episode, Aniwa actually takes his first HIV test, works through some stuff from his childhood by playing rugby with the NZ Falcons—one of the country’s gay teams—and checks out what Rainbow Youth is d...
By the end of season 2 we saw that the love birds were co-habitating together and Hira had started to work as an assistant to a photographer. The film continues and takes through further journey and bot more growth between these two characters. Hira's cousin is now going through a divorce and would like her home back leading to Hira and Kiyoi needing to look for a new place and hunt for it, leading to more discussions. Around the same time, the love affair of Kiyoi's female colleague becomes talk of the town disappointing fans. This makes Hira try to distance himself from Kiyoi little by little, not wanting to get in the way of Kiyoi's expanding career as an actor. But he doesn't understand how much Kiyoi wants him by his side. In the film the other main focus in on Hira's personal growth. He wants to get the biggest award in photography, but the one subject he wants to film the most, his lover Kiyoi, he is scared to even ask him, let alone photograph him. Through proper mentoring and coaching from the ace photographer, he manages to eventually overcome this fear and captures Kiyoi like no photographer has ever done. Towards the end, their love only gets stronger, where Hira is now starting to open up and also being more physical with his love and affection for Kiyoi.
When the film begins we notice that the couple has gotten used to living together. Kiyoi is a lot more direct with his affection and doesn't hide behind his tsundere ways, and Hira takes a bit more initiative this time. Hira does still idolise Kiyoi by calling him a "king" and himself a "fan", but the 'God' like status has reduced. The one thing that was very obvious in the first two seasons was the toxicity of the relationship, which has almost gone in this film version. What I appreciated was the healthy relationship between the renowned photographer and his mentorship for Hira. He is the only one who sees through Hira's brain, and coaches him to come out of shell and really go for his dream. The film definitely focuses a lot more on growth of Hira's character, which was long overdue. But besides that, the film, to be honest, is not saying much. It simply is a chapter in life of Hira-Kiyoi's growing relationship and their own personal growth and love for each other. The female star's love affair situation was too much in my opinion, but is still integral to the plot since, towards the climax in a crucial scene, we see the extent Hira will go to show his love for Kiyoi. The whole kidnapping thing towards the end was unnecessary though. The film felt rushed and I can see that probably the only reason it was made was to cash in on the popularity of the show without offering really anything new. It wasn't bad as a standalone, but nothing memorable. (6/10)
Comments
The kidnapping felt too much at first, but I liked it when Kiyoi says "Hira is nothing like you... he is way scarier!". And then Hira loses control. Those guys are totally fucked up haha I love it.
Hira's growth was really well done, as the show was more centered on him. I wish Kiyoi deserved some more development as well (he has always been the most intriguing of the 2 for me).
Also they tried something a little bit more graphic in the cinematography at times, and I liked it.
The whole series is an UFO for me, I still don't know how to feel about it, except it's different, unique, and somewhat endearing.