BLISS RATING: ★★★★+
“Love me gently that I may not fear thee. Yet love me firmly that I may be healed.” – itakeoffthemask.com
This is a brilliant piece of artistry that a responder to one of my reviews suggested I watch. It is an early work of Oak Runapnain from 2019. And I was delighted by this suggestion. He is in two of my all-time favorite series – Country Boy 1 and Country Boy 2. I find his acting remarkable and a thing of beauty to watch. Oak is one of those rare individuals who at a very young age is a natural at it and seems so genuine and real in his craft.
It is a simple story, really, stemming from a complex subject matter. The main character, Night (Oak Runapnain) is shot. We find out later accidently by Time (Film Montree). He was aiming for someone else. Times’s friends suggest and encourage him to go see the person he shot for atonement and forgiveness by apologizing. Reluctantly, he does go after he hears that Night has no one to care for him. When they meet, Night for obvious reasons, is leery of his intent. Reliantly, he agrees to accept Time’s help only until his cast comes off.
It is not long before Night becomes attracted to him. Night is a lonely, isolated, sad individual who presents a picture of need but would never ask for help. At the same time, he exudes a quiet structure of strength that seems to guide him as he continues to chip away at the world that is trying to block him from become a part of it. The blossoming connection between them is a kaleidoscope of emotions. Emotions ranging from pity to acceptance, from guilt to forgiveness, from loneliness to love, and from emptiness to joy. It was mesmerizing to watch their childish giddiness, the uncomfortableness of not knowing what to say, the misplaced staring at each other, while trying to overcome their shyness, to embracing, to finally accepting. The beauty of their innocence was a treat to relive with them.
As the relationship develops, albeit quickly, they draw off the connection each share with the other. In the scene when Night gives him the exact same watch that he has. The watch is very distinctive. Unhesitatingly, Time accepts and asks why. Night explains that it is a shackle. “Earlier your time was faster than mine. So, I adjusted the time to walk the same. Now our time is equal,” he explains. “What if it runs out of batter,” says Time. “It never will if you pay attention,” responds Night. Oh, the beautiful, sweet, innocent blissful smiles they each shared was magical and enchanting. They have found their soulmates, even at an early age.
Who really S.T.O.L.E. this series? This story is about two young boys who because of happenstance met and became soulmates. Wishing, desiring a life of ordinariness and solitude. They both appear to be very pensive individuals and private. So, both these guys desire credit for this distinction, with perhaps a slight extra nod for Oak because he is the younger and held is own. These guys can act even though at the time of this production, their acting experiences were very limited. Surprisingly, both had moments of pure acting acumen. When they were ‘themselves’, they were brilliant. Their clumsiness, the childhood giddiness, their sweet innocence, and lustful attraction they had for each other were realistic, honest, and worthy. Their inexperience as both individuals and artists shown with a brightness that was captured in their face and mannerism. I felt’ everything they did because they transported, at least me, back to their age and I understood. They made it relatable. Kudos for helping me – remember.
The ending is bittersweet. There is no happy ending here. These two are hapless with the universe seemingly against them. Or perhaps thought of as society’s losers. However, we see Night’s resolute from the very beginning. Perhaps not as much as Time, but there is something about Time’s inner fortitude that wants to help and give-in to what he knows in his heart is right. Further, I believe he has inner strength that will fortify him. Both have the ability to prevail, but do they have the fortitude? Or they well end up both being forgotten, lonely, isolated, individuals, always dreaming of what might have been or could have been. Destined to be alone living in sadness. Always waiting…..
This is a thought-provoking BL series that is a bit too short. Sure, it is not polished, and the production is obviously shoestring. Amateurish in parts? For sure. But that hardly negates its beauty. Ironically, this story has everything – a beginning, a middle, and an end. It lures you into thinking that life is a fairytale but then it rips you back into reality. The screenplay is very good and in places poignant. This series made me cry, ruminate, and reflect, and feel their emotional pain. This is a great series that showed us how a complex story can be made simple. Yet, it hits us with a dose of realism at the end. It smacks us with the reality of having to interpret what the characters are experiencing but must feel it ourselves alone. We are only left to wonder the depth of their pain, the enduring loneliness both must face, and the sadness that is inevitable. We are not part of that.
This is a remarkable series of ordinariness made to feel special if but for only for a moment in time.
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