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The Story of Bi Hyung: Enchanted Master of the Goblin (Korean Series)

By Golu
This show is a bit of a weird mix, blending old-school folklore with a modern-day BL setting. It feels like it’s trying to be both ancient and contemporary at the same time. I have to admit, the first four or five episodes really pulled me in, but unfortunately, I just couldn't stay interested as it went on. The whole supernatural plot and the folk story elements got pretty confusing after a while. Luckily, the funny back-and-forth between the characters was enough to keep me watching. The series tries to draw parallels to the legend of Bi-hyung, the Goblin King, but since I don't really know that story, I'm not even going to try to explain it. Altogether, it’s 12 episodes, and each one is about 25 to 30 minutes long. The story kicks off with Geum Bok, a guy from the countryside who moves to the big city because he wants to be an actor, but he immediately gets scammed out of his apartment. He’s stuck sleeping on the streets until he has a random run-in with a stranger who p...
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Ro Narukisosu (Japanese) [Old Narcissus]

By Golu
Honestly I am not sure how I feel about this film. Six years ago, a short film with same name, same lead actor and same story came and was probably a nice medium to tell this story. The film as it stands , stretches to almost 2 hours and doesn't really have much significant additional to say. Sure, its an interesting exploration of getting old, while being single and gay; but the makers also seem confused on whether to focus on queer aging issues, or kink, or old memories, or escort working; or something totally different.

The film starts with a 70-something aging gay man Yamazaki hiring a young escort Leo for an S&M session. Leo freaks and waits for him to be back. This is when Yamazaki tells him, he is ok and they hang out. Turns out he is a famous kids picture book writer, who was handsome as a young man and was always in love with himself. With Leo, now for first time he is falling in love with someone else. Leo, on the other hand, has  had a boyfriend for two years who is a simple working man and ha son issues with Leo's profession but he wants a committed partnership to make it official, but Leo is not sure. Through his love for Leo, Yamazaki finally comes to terms with and begins to forge the relationships he failed to carve during his youth with his friends and family. He visits an old love of his from his younger days with whom he could not be himself, but seeing him happy with his family doesn't sit well with him. He tries to officially adopt Leo as his partner but Leo makes him see reason. Eventually Leo realizes his true is with his boyfriend and meanwhile Yamazaki realizes he just needs to continue writing books and carve more friendships.

This film tries to delve into both the history and the current situation of stigma against queer peoples and the refusal of Japanese society to see them on equal footing as straight folk through the perspective of both the young and the old. But somehow it fails to really make a point. I understand that the perspective is from the older man' point of view, but Leo, here is a very important character. I would have liked to know more about his side of story. Why is he so much into the older guy (we know he didn't have father, but that can't be reason enough)? Why doesn't he want to commit to his loving boyfriend and also then why not accept Yamasaki's proposal? We never get to see and understand any of that. Yamazaki is also an interesting character. As pointed out by his bar owner gay friend, he is always full of himself and has never cared or loved anyone else and it hasn't change much until Leo appeared. But then what? Did Leo inevitably became an inspiration for him to write more books? What happened to the whole cancer situation, which is completely ignored towards the end. I feel like the director wanted to sy a few things but eventually got caught up in miss-mash of various things to eventually make a relevant statement towards the end. (4.5/10)
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