So, about a decade ago, there were these five movies that made up the whole Takumi-kun series. Now, the creators have come back with a six-episode show, with each part running about 25 minutes. I'm guessing they wanted to introduce a newer generation of BL fans to this world, but honestly, it backfired. The whole thing feels incredibly dated, like it’s completely out of touch with how modern BL shows are made today. Between a cast that’s way too crowded and a mountain of different couples to keep track of, the storytelling is just a total train wreck that doesn't make a lick of sense. The whole thing takes place at an all-boys boarding school. You’ve got Gii, who just moved back from the States and is the son of a super wealthy CEO, and he's roommates with Takumi. Right from the very first episode, Gii is basically obsessed, taking every chance he gets to shout his feelings from the rooftops. Takumi is really shy and has no clue how to handle all that heat, so he just doe...
Karim, a sociology student in Paris is of Algerian origin. He is making a video documentary on homosexual relationships in Islamic cultures, and is having troubles finding subjects to interview. Most of his time, he spends with his girlfriend. After a few bad meetings, Karim encounters Farid, a gay, well-adjusted, quietly seductive handsome Algerian lad who not only agrees to be interviewed, but also finds ways to assist Karim with his project. Slowly spending time with Farid and spending time travelling in northern /Arabic part of Africa, Karim finally comes to explore and accept his own sexuality.
The story of the film sounds very interesting but unfortunately film was nowhere close to it. The film was probably made on a shoestring budget and is filmed in a very interview/documentary style. It got really bore real quick. To be honest, while watching the film it felt as if it really was someone’s college video project which at some point was deemed decent enough to be released for a wider audience. Some interesting concepts are talked about and eat with (like the whole active homosexuality vs passive, sodomy, ancient Egyptian culture etc.). Some people may get excited with the fact that actors are real, but I think at some stage, we do want a good balance of realistic cinema intercepted with art. Something that feels like was shot by a hand held camera, interviewing openly arabic gays, sound good on paper, but it definitely did not lead any impact whatsoever.
Although in hindsight, with decent production values, actors and script, this subject is something that has potential to make a real big impact. (3.5/10)
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