This Vietnamese show isn't exactly groundbreaking, but it definitely keeps you hooked. It’s a quick watch with 10 episodes that only last about 15 to 20 minutes each, and even though it uses all the usual BL tropes, it really works because you can't help but root for the underdog. The romance actually takes its time to show up and then wraps up pretty fast, but the characters still feel way more relatable than in a lot of other shows like this. The story follows Phuc, who moves from Hanoi to Saigon to open his dream bar and live with his girlfriend. Things go sideways immediately when he arrives a day early to surprise her and catches her cheating, so he breaks up with her and leaves. He ends up reaching out to his old childhood neighbors, Cong and his sister Han, who he hasn't seen in years. The siblings are struggling on their own with a massive debt and Han’s poor health. Han thinks her brother works at a convenience store, but Cong is actually a heavy for a criminal gro...
Gloria is a celebrated drag performer, who performs in a club owned by Toni, the best friend. Meanwhile, a man Alex has been privately investigating Gloria and has been following her. Alex shows up as Candy at the bar wanting to audition for drag and gets the job. Gloria and Candy form a bond as a drag mother and daughter, staging rehearsals in what initially appears to be a fun performance. However, you feel there is a sexual tension between the two and soon they end up in bed with each other. Soon, the secret is revealed on how Alex is related to Gloria and how many would see this as an act of perversion, but surprisingly neither of. The two men see tithes way. With able support from Toni, Alex is finally revealed the truth of what really happened when he was born and eventually when and how did Gloria become a drag queen.
The makers have tried to give the film a very indie, artsy feel which works in its favor. You feel like you are watching a serious cinema with some real good acting and are waiting things to unfold. I personally was kind of expecting the surprise to be what it ended up being, but since the two men had sex, twice, I wasn't sure what was the intention behind it. I am glad that Gloria tells this to Toni and even asks if this makes him a pervert, since he would do this again, its clear the director knew they are walking on egg shells with the story. The stories about self acceptance and coming to terms on who you really are. Gloria as the drag queen does an excellent job. I felt Alex was a bit out of place. Toni as the supportive friend, did her part brilliantly. It was nice to see how their friendship lasted all these years.
Unlike most films about drag, this is not designed to be a campy film, but a tender and honest appraisal of one of the possible reasoning behind why Gloria pursue this as career line of work and the emotional attachments and complexities it brings. The story has loopholes and something that may not be acceptable. I sadly, am slightly biased myself but I think the director has potential for good future work. (5/10)
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