This review may contain spoilers
you should watch before you die
movie about two young man are falling love in each other they don’t love each other because they are gay it’s pure love for me movie was so artistic musics are (even i watch like 10 times i still open that song on spotify ..) great acting is so good (even they don’t really famous) i can’t tell anything bad about story it’s real and perfect thats my fave movie i would recommend this everyone (that song… the phone scene and the ending almost killing me ) but the worst part of this it’s a real story that makes my heart really bad … ??Was this review helpful to you?
Geography 101
I was wondering why Father Oliver talks about his past in Montréal because the actor is French (he says a few french words and his accent gives him away). It finally made sense to me in the credits : the film is dedicated to the memory of "Father Père Robert Massé" (since Père means Father, it's like saying "Father Padre Gonzales" for a Spanish priest). This French-Canadian priest, born in 1941, belonged to the Clerics of Saint Viator congregation and spent many years in Taiwan where he taught music (many other Viatorians taught music). He was born in Saint-Barthélémy, a small city 80 km from Montréal. He did go back to Canada later in life but probably not to live with his lover since he was active as a priest until his death in 2013. You can see a picture of him at https://viateurs.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/messe-commemorative-robert-masse.pdf(Other linguistic detail : as a French-speaking Canadian, the priest's name would be Olivier instead of Oliver. )
I smiled at some details from the Québec sequence at the end of the movie. Chang Jia-han visits a gay bar in Québec City during daytime, then visits the Niagara Falls and is back at the gay bar in the evening (OK, probably not the same evening because he's not wearing the same shirt). He must own a supersonic jet because the Niagara Falls are 900 km away from Québec City. We also see two lesbians who seem to spend all their time at that bar because we see them in both sequences. And why does the manager ask Chang Jia-han to leave because he's about to close, while other customers are still at the bar ? The last scenes were filmed at the Place Royale in Old Québec where a short scene from Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can was also shot (though it is supposed to depict Montrichard in France).
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Sweet? No . Beautiful? Yes
This movies is on another level. Love between two students being so beautifully and realistically drawn . It showed the definition of unrequited love and I found myself cry at some point because the struggles and problems, the desperation between the two leads were demonstrated so well.The acting, cinematography, music and edit were all done so well. I like how BL themed movies/series are improving within their overall context and this one here is leading the way.
Taiwan never disappoint
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Truly Realistic Movie
Since the story happens in the 80s, you guys know that LGBT was really taboo and... unfamiliar with society.This is really realistic - yes, two men might share the same feelings, but then what? Will the society accept them? Will the people think of them as crazy? Will they endure?
Their friendship eventually turns into something more passionate. What will happen to the young boys? And what's more amazing is that this is based on the true story. Well, damn you, director for making me bawling.
AND I read that the two main leads even lived together for some times, writing letters to each other so that they could feel the roles better. Kudos for them and staffs for giving us this masterpiece.
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How can i hate you when you are the one i love
This film is so great! The chemistry of the two lead male is incredible. For me, this film can show the meaning of choice. Everyone have to decided how to show or hidden their feeling which is a very hard choice.From this film i get the meaning of "Love have a bloom season and the true love is not about a physical relationship"
The soundtrack of this film is wonderful and can delivered the message of this film well
The sinematography and the idea of this film is fresh and satisfying to watch.
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This movie is just amazing.
To be honest,I am surprised that this movie has such low rating. I was for sure it would atleast have 8.4 or something. This movie just takes words out of my mouth. Its beautiful. It's tell the story of what could have been a wonderful story but it couldn't because of the timing and pressure. Believe me the ending isn't sad. But it's how you interpret it. The emotions of the characters can be felt so deeply in this movie. I legit was about to cry during parts of the movie. Give it a watch if you still haven't.Was this review helpful to you?
Bittersweet
i just rewatched it again, and Im impressed.Its not never done before but its a bit beautiful or whatever nonetheless.
People hate the ending sometimes a bit but i like it alot. As i said its bittersweet. Not sad at all but not happy.
Not really a spoiler but it is happy, but by the time it becomes happy theyve already lost too much, mostly time. Their youth. Other peoples time.
Its a bit open ended but I believe it was happy.
0 qualms with the acting.
I do wish they got a different guy for the older version of ahan(? I dont remember the name, i nean the guy whos not birdy) because I really noticed that slight bump(?) to the younger actors nose and its quite a distinctive shape.
So when they showed the older guy with a straight nose my brain was a bit confused but anyways. I digress. Its obviously totally irrelevant I just wanted to get the 500 characters in
That said I think the story could have survived without the random white priest. But it ties into the directors real experiences so I dont mind either. Profiter du moment. Except if youre gay. The ending and the truth about the white guy made it a bit sadder or relevant though.
I read through all the imdb negative reviews and I dont completely understand them. I never felt much of that. There was a slight choppiness to the movie but that was only because of the 10 minutes of deleted scenes, which i would HIGHLY reccomend watching on youtube after the series. Well shot and acted otherwise. It feels nostalgic though I was not really alive for any of this.
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will probably never get over this
i watched this when it came out on netflix and its been two whole fucking years and a ton of discussions about it and a whole ass poem inspired by it on my part and still, i'm not really any close to getting over whatever this was. may be because, in some ways, i can relate to it. even a tiny bit. it makes me cry everytime. jia han and birdy make me cry everytime. i see myself in birdy the most. maybe i just projected onto him, lol. but, i could understand his whole journey: how he went from resisting and standing up for what he believed in to finally giving up and blending in. you only do that when something hits close to home and realize: fuck, things really aren't going to change, are they? the way they could've been together if they'd only been born a few decades later is so bittersweet. i love them. i love this. i want to give teenage jia han a big old hug. and i'm so thankful for the director for making this and the writer for writing those dialogues and the actors for doing the best job ever. i seriously will probably never forget this and i'm glad i won't. this doesn't deserve to be forgotten.P.S i am superrr pissed this has lower ratings on here than bad buddy wtf???? i love bad buddy, but you know.....
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Poignant and bittersweet
Made me feel a lot of nostalgia for Taiwan even though this took place before my time! It was a really beautiful story — really poignant and subtle with the way it delivers references and relationship dynamics. The pacing was a little up and down and I have mixed feelings about the time jump — I wish there had been more balance and more development in the time jump.Ultimately, I just loved the entire vibe of this movie, and I'm a sucker for this type of quiet yet fiery yearning slow burn. The entire movie felt bittersweet in the best way.
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heart-breaking
It is a profoundly challenging experience to watch. It evokes a deep emotional response, possibly because it mirrors the harsh realities of life.This film possesses an undeniable beauty, but it evoked such intense emotions that I couldn't help but shed tears. Regardless of the emotional impact it had on me, the story itself is exceptional, and I have no regrets about watching it.
In my perspective, this film can be deemed a true masterpiece. Its exceptional writing and skillful direction contribute to a flawless execution overall.
The narrative revolves around two authentic individuals who experience the full range of human emotions, including pain, suffering, and tears. However, amidst these hardships, there are also moments of happiness, longing, and ultimately a satisfying resolution.
Watching this remarkable creation has truly been an awe-inspiring, incredible, and immensely gratifying experience.
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A LOVE STORY THAT WILL LINGER IN YOUR HEAD FOR SOME TIME
The film itself is a masterpiece but we shouldn't overlook those who carried this film, Edward and Tseng, they conveyed multiple emotions that a person like me can relate to. It's sentimental, not to mention, it's based on the real life story of the Director himself. This will be my forever Roman empire because of its cinematography and topic that is considered a taboo in that era. There are a lot of what ifs and should have's but it did have a bittersweet ending (atleast in the movie :<<). Hoping to have another movie that casts the two Male Leads cause this one short film is not enough for me. I want more of them!!! make it happen JuseyooooooWas this review helpful to you?
