Movie Reviews -
Gay Themed

This film is a moving Singaporean drama about a drag queen, who returns home to care for his mother with dementia, leading to healing and self-discovery through deception. Using this premise it nicely explores family, dementia, and identity, anchored by some great performances. It centers an lqbtq+ narrative with such an open heart that it feels good. I havent seen many queer films from Singapore, so this is definitely a welcome change. The story follows Jia Hao, a drag queen, who left home years ago and is now returning for the funeral of his abusive father. Her brother travels often for work. Soon after this event, the mother starts to show signs of dementia and given healthcare s expensive, Jia Hai decides to take car of her full-time. One day when the mother forgets who her son is, on the spur of the moment he takes on the role of her daughter to calm her down. The film is then more a tender story of how Jia Hao helps her mother and takes care of her as her daughter. She takes her ...

Shine is a period drama set in 1969, starring ‘KinnPorsche’ stars, set against Thailand's political upheaval during those times. To be honest, there is a lot going on in this show, which I will admit that I was not prepared for. Having watched the whole thing. I feel like if I knew what Iw as getting into and paid attention to it in details, this show could have been a great watching experience, but I guess by now I am used to run of the mill BL storylines from Thailand and I was caught off-guard in a negative way. The story was quite complicated and even though the episodes were only 8, almost all of them were 70 minutes or longer with finale being almost 90 minutes, The series follows Trin, an idealistic young professor newly back home from overseas. His idealism is tested as he is drawn into community development initiatives as much as the gritty surroundings of the protest movement amongst students. Determined to contribute to his country without resorting to violence, Trin str...

Jezabel is a striking exploration of how we manipulate others and ourselves. As an adult how subjective and fickle our memory can be and we can rewrite our stories and deceive ourselves without even realizing it. Although occasionally disappointing in its execution, it offers an enthralling premise and intensely tragic moments that will undoubtedly linger in our memories. It is not a gay film per say (our lead character is bisexual and in present ties he has a boyfriend), but the core of the film is not gay sexuality but so much more than that. By looking back at the lives of four affluent young people in Venezuela, it explores the frailty of memory, class struggles, and masculinity.  The film moves constantly between present (or rather future) and past. Alain is a young troubled man disinterested in life. His boyfriend Salvador is a journalist and somehow conversations between them bring about memories of Alain's youth and his friend circle. Affluent teenagers—Lolo, Cacá, Eli, and...

If you are a queer film lover, you have been likely hearing about this film for a while now, and I was also anxiously waiting to watch it. Having read some glorious reviews about this film, having seen the trailer, about this BDSM "Dom-com" gay romance, I was naturally quite excited abut it. However, I have to admit that overall I was a bit underwhelmed. I know critics all over are going ga ga over the film and to be fair, technically the film is brilliant. But for me, if I have no intention of rewatching this film ever, then was it really that good? More on that later. The one thing you have to keep in mind while watching this film is that you have to resist the urge to categorize desire as either healthy or harmful. The film is not interested in preaching, diagnosing, or condemning. Instead, it simply watches two people find something they didn’t know how to ask for, and asks us to do the same. Young man Colin works as a traffic enforcement officer. He is fragile, quiet, or...

I was wondering what happened to Alan Carr's series follow up season. I didn't realize that I was late to the party. Having just finished the Celebrity Traitors UK version, it reminded me ho wI enjoyed this series. Thankfully getting ny hands on season 3 turned out to be easy. I just did not know it was already out. Season 3 returns to Northampton in 1989 and to a 13-year-old Alan Carr navigating the awkward currents of adolescence. The series draws directly from the comedian’s youth while keeping its themes instantly readable. This season centers on Alan’s emerging sexuality and an intense crush on Jake, a handsome classmate. This season we witness Alan having a crush on his classmate Jake. When he sees him working in a local store and then later at swimming pool. Unlike other boys, Jake is not dismissive of Aland and is friendly and of course Alan sees this as a sign of friendship. While the underlying theme is that of Alan finally growing into a teenager, every episode conti...

This film is a coming of age story of the growing pains of a privileged 16 year old teenage but for some reason he despises all that because he feels nothing is real. It is a drama about youth and desire – and destiny, sexuality and class. I am struggling to define this as a LGBTQ friendly film, because in a way it is about this kid realizing about his sexuality, accepting it and figuring out ho to live with it, but this is just one part. The film is so much more than that. 16 year old Enzo comes from a very wealthy family but he is spending his summer at a construction site doing menial jobs. Their son is sensitive, artistic, unused to manual labour; he’s arguably equally unsuitable for it, though he persists, despite the disapproval of his boss. But Enzo insists he wants be there. Slowly we start o realize that this may be for the company of these two Ukranian guys who work alongwith him. Out of these two, Vlad shot more compassion, friendliness and  a sensitivity toward Enzo tha...

I am still exploring a lot of gender/sexuality stuff on the queer spectrum. This film is an earnest drama about a teenager coming to terms and coming out as non-binary. The film may feel a bit slow but it was such a good feeling while watching the film mostly because there isa lot f positivity among the usual negative suspects. The film highlights issues around self acceptance, fears of coming out, depression, a family with both supportive and non supportive people and most importantly love. The pleasant, polished drama provides a compassionate take on a high schooler undergoing considerable change. The film is about Ben, a young teenage who is trying to tell something to his parents and in the very next scene, we see him crying calling his sister Hannah to pick him up in freeing cold without his shoes or jacket. It's only then the gravity of the situation kicks in that the parents have kicked him out. Hannah was already estranged with parents and she and her husband lovingly take ...

Just the other day I was thinking of SOTUS series and how I never saw the two lead actors from that show again! And it was funny when I started watching the show, to my surprise, here comes the two leads on this brand new BL series from the good old production company. The show never really offers anything new or ground breaking but I believe that the idea here was to bank on the nostalgia and appeal of one of the beloved couples from back in the day. The average show, makes up for it by a very fun last episodes where they show some traditions from Thai culture of a very dreamy wedding. The show is 10 episodes of 45 minutes each. Phi is a well-known weather anchor on a TV show. However, he faces public disgrace after a live broadcast where he throws coffee at a colleague. His reputation suffers, and he gets suspended from his show. To save his career, Phi must work with a new producer, who happens to be his ex-boyfriend, Tam. Tam is calm and professional, having studied media abroad. T...

‘My Sweetheart Jom’ is essentially a light comedy, featuring caricature-like villains and a slow-burn love story, with the community spirit and the silly shenanigans of its younger characters driving the plot forward. Despite its occasional charm and two very charming leads, the show tries to juggle too many plots all at once and letting some of the down. It feels like the show was supposed to be your classic love story, but some plots were introduced, some characters were forgotten, while the episodes duration kept getting stretched. The show has 12 episodes and each episode is like 75 to 90 minutes and a couple of them even longer. There is a lot going on here and s much of it could have been easily edited out. City boy Yo, who is now 19, did not finish 12th grade because of some drama. His girlfriend was also being pursued by a politicians son and they have a fight, so his parents send him to a rural village as an ultimatum to finish his high school. If he doesn't do that, he do...

This beautiful film started off really well and I was quite into it, but somehow the second half felt quite disconnected, almost as if two different film makers had made the film. An honest depiction of teenage sexuality, the film is about coming out story of a 17-year old, overcoming bullying and a hate crime to find happiness and self-acceptance. The film doesn't specify the time period, but lack of phones and chat style on computer suggest that this was likely set in the 90s when the times were very different. Leo, a handsome Greek-Italian teenager lives with his parents and younger brother. His best mate is Boof and they are quite close doing all silly things together. Leo is sort of rushed into dating Monique, a girl from the class who really likes him and whose best friend is also Boof's girlfriend. But Leo can’t stop himself from stealing glances at red-headed Tom, a buddy of his younger brother. At a house party, when Leo is unable to have sex with Mo, he just goes out ...

This series may have the most simple and basic storyline we have seen in BL's but it still does feel like a warm cozy hug. The cinematography, The lush greenery, the rainfall and the beautiful chemistry between the two boys was amazing. The show is just 7 episodes of average 15 minutes and then 14 bonus episodes of approximately 5 minutes each. We will talk more details once we summarize the story. Xiaozhi is asked by his older brother to spend a few weeks at a summer camp to monitor children on an island that produces lychee fruit. He is a boyishly handsome young man, who is also interested in art and philosophy. He is roomed with a friend of his brother and about the same age as his brother. Chen Li, handsome and helpful, takes a liking to Xiaozhi and immediately the two of them become close friends. Both take separate soul-searching journeys that intercept and intertwine with one another leading to only one inevitable course. The two spend a lot of time in the camp just being th...

Adapted from a Japanese manga, this apparently toned down version, is a quintessential love story in my opinion. What lengths would you go to when challenges come in between love and your work and how do you balance the two is wonderfully shown in this series. Subtextually there is a lot going on in the series (base din the film world showing all kinds of differences, and rivalries), the show tries to remain focused more on the love, which can be good or bad. With 11 episodes, each of about 45-55 minutes, the shows ends teasing us the possibility of a second season. Akin is a famous star actor and a celebrity. He has winning the sexiest man award for few years in a row and is trembly popular. Enter Jin, a newbie whose first small role is with Akin. He is a wooden actor but after giving a few bad shots, Akin gives him some tips and soon he is nailing the scene. Their first show gets popular and soon the duo are cast together in a historical adaptation. This is where the love story betwe...

Netherland-based queer drama Out is about two young boys in love and how their lives change when they move out of their conservative hometown to live the glitzy gay life in Amsterdam. I would say this film is extremely relatable. What does being in love for two men mean in the quiet rural life v/s city? What does liberation mean for them? Capturing the recklessness of youth and the excitement of newfound sexual liberties in sensuous black-and-white cinematography, Out offers up a vivid and tender tale of being young and gay. Tom ( a budding film maker) and Ajani (we are not surely told what is he studying) are closeted secondary school sweethearts who yearn for life outside of their small-minded, rural community in the Netherlands. While Ajani comes out to his family, Tom's family is different. Plus he is very sure that he is bisexual and keeps reminding himself and other. When They both get accepted in school in Amsterdam, their excitement knows no bound. Ajani is excited because ...

This film is a story of a 16 year old young teen who is suffering, is lonely, prone to self-harm and worse. This story of our protagonist doesn't give us much data on what bruises or tragedy from childhood pr past he is carrying with him and the way one summer unfolds takes him into a vortex of degradation, humiliation and masochism which hurts just to watch it. Tobias is a young 16-ish year old introverted young man who loves skateboarding and is eager for love. His mother doesn’t have time for him,  so she sends him to spend the summer with his out-of-town grandparents. His grandfather is a glassmaker who teaches his grandson the basics of the profession; his grandmother has dementia, but she gives the boy the little affection his parents fail to provide. When granny's health takes for worse, he goes off for few days to his father's place but he is also busy with his new family and has been equally absent. The summer days seem to drag on forever; there’s nothing to do in ...

This nice little film is a subtle, but sharp dissection of family dynamics. The film feels like a carefully directed ping-pong match between family members, in which everyday life unexpectedly sets up as an obstacle which can threaten the happy existence of the family. The scenario, although seemingly simple, exposes layers that are about love, loyalty and the fragile balance within a family. I quite enjoyed this film. The film starts with Teen Tommy just having graduated, but sadly has also been dumped by his boyfriend and is struggling with the pain of heartbreak. His father, is well intentioned but unable to provide emotional support. His mother supports him unconditionally. When Tommy starts to work with his father Rin his workshop, he accidentally discovers email chain between his father and another man, clearly indicating a gay affair between the two. The young boy doesn't know what to do. Gathering courage, he asks his father about this, who tells him that this man was someo...

The series Blur tells the story of a close group of friends formed during high school. But what happens after graduation? As their lives change, so do they, and so do the dynamics between them. Will they let go or stick together? The first season had 8 episodes of 35 min each. It I snot really a gay show, but there is a queer relationship quite prominent in the initial part of the overall story and again later, so I think it qualifies to be reviewed here. This is the story of Tommy, Tuur, Femke, Rune, Manon, Joren and Julie, a close group of friends that emerged during high school. Their group is called "Pigs". After graduation, as they spread their wings and get to know themselves better, how will the multiple events affect their life and their interactions with others. Manon and Joren are twin brother-sister. Julie is Manon's best friend dating her brother Joren for 4 years. Rune is the gay guy (more like gender fluid , in my opinion) of the group, who is spending more ...

This Korean BL series delves into an interesting world of passion as three suitors vie for the heart of a man named Daon. Sadly, the very definition of relationships seems to spell disaster for him. He was constantly played, dictated and his boundaries were pushed; simply because they couldn’t stand seeing with someone else. The story is quite intriguing I must say, especially as the layers peel. But it is also a bit confusing and convoluted at the same time. The show has 8 episodes, each of 35-40 minutes (which is quite a contrast from other regular Korean BL content). Told us through a few flashbacks, here is what I understood of the story. Daon works in a an office, and he is good friends with a college professor who he has known from college. This college professor is Mr Too Goody shoes and takes care of Daon a lot to an obsessive extent where he even gives money to his abusive father. Slowly Daon starts to get feelings for him, but when he confesses his feelings, the professor guy...

“What About Me?” is a bold, short-form dark comedy series about queer grief, identity and Hollywood absurdity. Its 6 episodes each roughly about 10 minutes premiered on YouTube and is a rollercoaster of emotions navigating between grief, depression, comedy, family absurdity; while the story itself felt both relatable but absurd and silly. It's a short form but production was top notch and so was acting and direction. The story starts with a funeral of Jake, whose sister Jill is giving the speech. We are introduced to Josh at the same time, sitting in a toilet cubicle, browsing a gay hook up app. Turns out Josh and Jake were twins, with vastly different lives. Jake was straight, a famous Hollywood actor; while Josh is gay and a bakery supervisor. With Jake passing away now, every family member including mother, grandma, sister and most importantly his shadow, his twin brother Josh would need to confront their unresolved feelings - all while grieving. The sister finds out she is preg...

This gay film has a lot that it unpacks. Tackling with the deep themes, such as budding love, the unsaid, the complexity of adolescence and the cruelty of bullying, the film is an interesting take. Set in two different timelines, the film is set in early 2000's with taking a flashback into the summer of 1983 when the two protagonists Paul and Joseph met. The sensitivity with which the sincere portrait of adolescence is drawn up in the first part and the reunion 20 years later of Paul and Joseph having made their adult life a vibrant, this touching story remains intact in their relationship despite the vagaries of life. On his wedding day, Paul's very pregnant wife surprises him by inviting an old friend of his Joseph, whom he hasn't seen for almost 20 years. With the burning memories of their meeting that summer of 1983, Paul is overwhelmed by doubts about the choices of a lifetime and the emotions of this forbidden relationship. Back in 1983, we see Paul was a shy teenager...

It seems like everyone is loving this show and is going almost crazy about it. We will get to what I think, a bit later. But I do have to say that the makers have really taken the production quality quite a few steps high with this show. The cinematography and visuals are top tier, they have focused on music and choreography (given the central theme is about 5 boys in a band) and have not taken any thing lightly. I am not sure of any of the actors are real life singers as well, but I am going to try to review this series as objectively as possible. The show is 13 episodes and thankfully all episodes are about 45 minutes, which was a welcome change after the last few shows which all seem to be hovering at about an hour duration each. Po, a young photographer is lost in life. His ex used him, draining his talent and then left him. He does odd jobs here and there to keep afloat. So when a friend offers him a dream job—capturing the final moments of the beloved T-pop band MARS before they ...