In this film aptly named 'Sex', the narrative takes place in contemporary urban Norway. With some clever wordplay, it pushes back against traditional ideas of masculinity and societal expectations, no matter if the characters see themselves as straight or gay. Honestly, I think this film would’ve worked better as a stage play. It’s loaded with dialogue, and at times, I found myself thinking, “Can we just get on with it, please?” More on that later. Two chimney sweeps, both in committed heterosexual relationships, encounter situations that shake up their views on sexuality and gender roles. One of them has been dreaming about a passionate romance with David Bowie, who makes him feel feminine, while the other has recently had a sexual experience with a male client—an unexpected yet delightful encounter, which turns sour when he confides in his wife. They don’t see themselves as gay, but as time passes, they start to question their identities. The film then shifts focus to how the second guy's wife reacts to her husband’s infidelity. He tries to handle her intense emotional response to what he considers a minor hiccup, and both are taken aback by the situation. The storyline of the first guy feels a bit scattered and lacks a solid resolution. He tends to fall back on clichés that the film can’t fully explore since he struggles to understand the heteronormative standards he’s critiquing. The two main characters grapple with their sexual identities and come to terms with their own deviations, reflecting on how these affect their futures. The film also dives…

Honestly, I had zero expectations for the film since I didn't know much about it. Given the landscape of Asian, especially Thai, BL series, I try to keep my hopes in check. Thankfully, this film turned out to be a delightful surprise. It tackles a topic that many films shy away from: What exactly are "rights"? Are they inherent to everyone, regardless of age, background, culture, or other circumstances, or do we have to earn them? Can the law dictate these rights, or do we simply assume we're entitled to them based on tradition or circumstance? This question takes on a different weight for gay couples in countries where the law doesn't recognize their relationships. The film presents a story from such a viewpoint. Thongkam and Sek are a gay couple who pour their life savings into a durian orchard. Thongkam even sells his house to fund the venture. They get married, despite the law not recognizing their union. One night, while working on the farm, Thongkam suffers a tragic accident and dies, as the doctors can’t get a signature from a "family" member—his husband isn’t legally recognized as family. Consequently, the assets now pass to Sek's mother, who lives with her adopted daughter, Mo. Both mother and daughter have their own ulterior motives. Swallowing his pride, Thongkam stays behind, hoping to reclaim what’s rightfully his, but a cat-and-mouse game ensues between him and Mo. Mo believes that after her mother’s death, everything will belong to her, so she invites her brother to the farm to help. Unbeknownst to them,…

This film is the follow-up to 2021’s Mascarpone, which I really enjoyed, so my expectations for the sequel were quite high. To recap, in the original, Antonio breaks up with his husband and moves in with a sex worker named Denis. Denis helps him land a job as an apprentice baker with Luca, leading to a romantic relationship that includes threesomes until Denis’s untimely death. The sequel picks up three years later. Now, Antonio has become a successful celebrity pastry chef and food influencer with a substantial Instagram following. He hasn’t seen Luca since Denis passed away, and his dating life has been lackluster as he focused on his career. One day, Luca walks into his café, and they reconnect. Luca has faced challenges over the past three years, losing his bakery but now thriving as a youth worker at an LGBTQ homeless refuge, engaged to his boyfriend Tancredi. Realizing he still has feelings for Luca, Antonio decides to sabotage Luca’s relationship with Tancredi to win him back. He proposes a business partnership to reopen Luca’s bakery, mistakenly interpreting Luca’s kindness as romantic interest. As things unfold, Antonio’s friends help him see that he’s becoming bitter and arrogant, jeopardizing a happy couple for his own desires. Ultimately, he recognizes the need to let go of the past and embrace the future. I remember noting in my review of the original that the cast was attractive, and that holds true here—both Antonio and Luca remain incredibly appealing. I wasn’t a fan of the actor playing Tancredi, but his character was significant…

The initial extensive investigation into the experiences of transgender individuals on the autism spectrum reveals that they tend to face persistent mental and physical health issues, with notably high instances of self-harming behaviors, as indicated by findings from the Autism Research Center at Cambridge University. According to the researchers, these individuals also indicate that the quality of healthcare they receive is inferior compared to both autistic and non-autistic individuals whose gender identity aligns with their sex assigned at birth. Dr. Elizabeth Weir, a postdoctoral scientist at the Autism Research Center and one of the study's leading researchers, stated, “These results contribute to the increasing evidence that a significant number of autistic individuals suffer from alarmingly poor mental health and are at a substantial risk for suicidal behaviors. It's crucial to examine how various aspects of identity, such as gender, affect these risks.” This report follows up on a 2020 study from Cambridge that established a correlation between transgender identities and autism, showing that transgender individuals tend to exhibit more autistic traits than the general population. Numerous studies have supported this finding, indicating that autistic individuals are more prone to experience gender dysphoria compared to others. The outcomes from the 2020 study were derived from feedback from over 640,000 participants. The latest research, which appeared in Molecular Autism, analyzed the experiences of 174 autistic transgender individuals, 1,094 autistic cisgender individuals, and 1,295 non-autistic cisgender individuals. When compared to non-autistic cisgender individuals, autistic transgender individuals reported experiencing anxiety, “shutdowns,” and “meltdowns” related to typical healthcare encounters at rates three to eleven times…

So, the sequel to the original movie about Aki and Haru, which had everyone buzzing with excitement, is finally here. I was really hoping that after exploring friendship in the first film, this one would dive deeper into the blossoming romance and the feelings these two boys have for each other. But, man, it happens way too late! Only in the last 5-10 minutes do they spill their true feelings, and something significant finally takes place. Up until then, it’s sadly just a spiritual follow-up, still holding onto the charm of the original flick. Now, Aki and Haru have been living together for three years and are wrapping up their final year at university. They really enjoy their mealtimes, filled with light-hearted chats, playful banter, and each other's company. Both are on the job hunt now. Aki's feeling anxious about interviews, but he eventually lands a gig in home decor, which makes them both pretty happy. Meanwhile, Haru is all about his photography passion, knowing jobs in that area are scarce. He even turns down a video editor position because of that. Both guys are still a bit unsure about what lies ahead. As graduation approaches, Aki learns his job will be in Osaka, meaning Haru has to find a new place to live. His worst fear comes true: being apart from Haru. He realizes he loves Haru but decides to keep it to himself. Near the end of the school year, Haru mentions he doesn’t want to move because of the memories tied to Aki, and that’s when Aki…

I’ve got really mixed emotions about this series. I get the art of subtlety and letting things unfold slowly, but I expected a bit more from a Taiwanese production. If it had been a Chinese show, I’d understand the legal constraints, but let’s be real—Taiwan has produced more straightforward BL series. Here, almost everything is left to the audience's imagination. Sure, it’s a teenage love tale between two boys who end up as stepbrothers, trying to navigate their feelings for each other, but honestly, this show drags on too much. I enjoyed the first 6-7 episodes, but after that, it felt like I was just watching some chapters pass by. Plus, several side stories didn’t get wrapped up. There might be a sequel, but we’ll see. With around 12 episodes, each lasting about 50-55 minutes, you’re looking at a big time commitment. The plot is pretty straightforward. Sheng Wang transfers to a new school and immediately clashes with classmate Jiang Tian. What they don’t realize is that their parents are dating and have decided to move in together, which means Jiang Tian is now living in Sheng Wang’s house. As the episodes progress, we see these boys evolve from rivals to brothers, gradually supporting each other and developing feelings they’re not mature enough to handle. Throughout the series, we also see how today’s kids juggle academics, sports, and the pressure to excel, given the intense competition. They’re expected to be experts in everything. The show touches on students’ insecurities and friendships, too. There’s also a subplot involving two substitute teachers…

Country: PhilippinesRelease Year: 2024Director: Ivan Andrew PayawalWriter: Ash MalanumLanguage: Tagalog, FilipinoGenre: Drama, RomanceRuntime: 43 minCast:Mike Liwag, Jesse GuintoJoshua De Guzman, John Cheme Sta. MariaJohn Kenneth Caballero Jr., Kevin DyStudio:The IdeaFirst CompanyVivamaxImdb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34149402/ At first glance, this film appeared to be a bit risqué (I had my reservations in the initial five minutes), yet it transcends that impression. It genuinely portrays a couple with contrasting views on their relationship, and this rift ultimately leads to their downfall. Directed by the creator of Gameboys, I honestly anticipated more depth because the storyline feels quite minimal. The emphasis leans more towards addiction, relationship adjustments, and the question of when enough is truly enough. The storyline is straightforward. Kent and Harvey have been together for seven years. Kent has always been into group activities, and in fact, he first met Harvey at one of his gatherings. Sparks ignited, leading them to pursue a relationship. Kent even convinced Harvey to agree to an open arrangement, which Harvey was fine with. However, currently, Harvey feels overwhelmed and requests Kent to halt these activities, suggesting they focus solely on each other. The couple engages in several heated yet intricate discussions about Kent's inability to change, Harvey's insistence on stopping, and the necessity for them to concentrate on their individual intimate lives. Clearly, the two men care for each other deeply, but after seven years, their desires diverge significantly. Harvey is resolute about ending the relationship if Kent remains unyielding, but will this be an easy decision for him? The film runs for just under an hour, and…