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...
Aek is a gay dad, whose partner died right around the time their son Nueng was born through surrogacy in a road accident. The relationship between father and son is unpleasant and unstable. We are not really told why, but it seems the father has been unsuccessful in caring and loving his son because of his partner's death. Aek continues to hook up wit hookers. Also, Nueng is constantly bullied by everyone around him for having a gay dad. He has no friends, except Nat, a neighborhood boy, who also happens to be Nueng's boyfriend. In a sudden turn of events Nat is found murdered along with another boy naked. Saddened by the events, Nueng jumps from roof and kills himself. Enter a mysterious guy who says he can give a chance to Aek to save his son by sending him back 24 hours in time. First time, Aek tries to save Nut but Nut gets attracted to Aek, because of which Nueng still kills himself due to betrayal by his lover and father. This happens two more times but each time Nueng ends up killing himself. Aek then begs for a final chance and ends up stabbing himself to distract Nueng from killing anyone and dying himself. Eventually Nueng and Aek bot live and become closer as a father and son.
As you can see the story is quite novel , interesting and intriguing but in terms of execution, it feels a bit amateurish at various points. I wish the choice of actor for the role of Nueng was different. I feel he was the weaker link amongst all. Rest were strictly ok. We needed more of a back story on why the strained relations between the father and the son. There were a lot of hard core steamy sex scenes which were really not needed. I mean, I am not complaining but anyone can tell, such extended scenes multiple times were not really necessary if you are going to make a serious cinema. The time travel aspect was an interesting surprise and somehow worked in this concept.
Overall a decent attempt wit a good story at hand and some constructive feedback. (6/10)
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