Note: this is a queer film, not a BL. if you’re looking for a BL this isn’t for you. If you are confused what I mean by it being a queer film: this story deals with the realities of being queer, including homophobic strangers with loud opinions and having to decide how to face your families. It also delves into the complexity of sexuality, love and attraction as we have a gay man and a straight man in a relationship.

If you’re expecting a plethora of love scenes and kisses and put a high value on those you may be looking for a BL, not queer media.

I’ve seen criticism of the sex scenes and, to be honest, they feel awkward and uncoordinated. On the other hand, there is a sincerity in how very unpretty it is. No one is having Hollywood pretty sex in real life. There’s an urgency and desperation when these two are together as if they are desperate for air and this is the only way to get it.

A lot is left unsaid between Kohei and Yuta. Yuta is emotional and reacts in a way that causes protective distance. Kohei is often unclear about his own feelings because his affection for another man is new to him. When given the opportunity they both do what so many people do in real life: hesitate, hold back and remain silent.

I’m still not sure Yuta loved Kohei, if I’m honest. I think he clearly cared for him but I think he wanted to be loved and accepted by someone more than anything. Kohei wound up stepping up into that role, though he faltered and made mistakes along the way. In the end, I think Yuta was too wounded to give any more of himself than he did.

Kohei was so interesting to watch evolve. In many ways he simply let their relationship evolve and become whatever it wanted to be without giving it a lot of thought. There was no hesitation in becoming part of Yuta’s life and accepting what he offered. There was no hesitation when Yuta decided to cross the line to evolve that relationship into something sexual, and by extension eventually romantic, between them. Kohei only stopped to think about things when Yuta was gone, but he never really stops trying to figure things out. He doesn’t just give up on Yuta, even though he is sometimes too lost to know what to do.

The main actors convey so much with their physical performances. This isn’t a dialogue heavy story and it doesn’t need to be. Yuta is complicated enough that this could easily be unsatisfying for some viewers but it wasn’t for me.

I also want to include a HUGE shout out to Priscilla’s bar and the community Kohei finds there. The regulars all seem to know about him and Yuta but still don’t presume anything about his orientation or press a narrative about what their relationship means for the label he should wear. It is an accepting and comforting place to be with people you can be yourself with. As a queer person, this was one of my favorite things in the film.

This film isn’t perfect. The writing and storytelling isn’t flawless. The emotion and impact, however, is fantastic. This may be a little too “real life” for some, but I really appreciated the depth and complexity this film managed in such a short time.