Sand | 26 | he/she/they | Aro/Ace | Half Portuguese Half Spanish | Go vegan | Fuck Terfs 🍉🗝️ Posting about queer media in general and more specifically about GL and BL. Profile picture and header from Not Me.
I'm making a marathon watching one movie per day this pride month. I watch a lot of series but somehow don't watch that many films. I have a huge ass list of films I want to watch and it keeps on growing every year.
So this month I'm going to post a review every day! I don't have any purpose for posting this on Tumblr, I was going to do it by myself so I thought why not post about it. Maybe someone gets a recommendation out of it.
This is the list I'm following in case you want to join me 〜(꒪꒳꒪)〜
The Art of Joy (2025) [edit] starting off bad, this is apparently a mini series not a movie so let's change it for Peking Opera Blues (1986)
The director and actor Eduardo Casanova makes the most intimate and significant revelation of his life: he has HIV. There is no precedent in Spain for a public figure to disclose that he is living with HIV, a step that organizations and activists have been calling for for years to help end the social stigma still associated with the virus.
Review
⭐ 3.5 / 5 ⭐
I think it’s a highly relevant play in today’s climate, and one that could be eye-opening for many people. The problem lies not with the play itself, but with the audience. I feel that the audience who should see it would never want to, whilst those who would already have a basic understanding of HIV. That doesn’t mean the documentary isn't interesting. It's captivating to gain a better understanding of Eduardo Casanova’s artistic world, and I believe his ‘coming out of the pink closet’ could be hugely beneficial for HIV visibility. Perhaps other public figures that have it will be encouraged to speak about it publicly as well, which would help to normalise the issue, educate people and reduce stigma. As the documentary itself points out, most of the celebrities known to have HIV are dead.
Leaving the context aside and focusing on the content, I didn’t find it to be a particularly good documentary. I like the narrative device of the two interspersed pieces of footage, the one directed by Jordi Évole and the one directed by Eduardo Casanova. It has some cool moments. I like that it discusses the process whilst it’s happening; it’s like a meta-documentary. But beyond that, it didn’t make much of an impact on me. Even so, I recommend it and I think it’s a very good approach to humanising people with HIV or AIDS. To put a face to them, listen to their voices and not just think of them as victims of a forgotten epidemic.
"You cannot live with hatred; you can live with HIV, but not with hatred"
"When I started working with prosthetics that's when I contracted HIV. That’s why I started covering the actors’ and actresses’ faces with make-up. That’s why I started turning them into monsters. That’s why I started painting everything pink. That’s why I started covering up the red; that’s why the colour red terrifies me."
If you want to join the marathon here is the list.
Born in 1900 in a poor family in rural Sicily, Modesta pursues happiness since her childhood trying to survive without falling victim to the constraints of society. After a tragic event that takes her away from her family, Modesta is welcomed into a monastery, where she becomes the Mother Superior’s protégé thanks to her intelligence and stubbornness. Later, she arrives at the villa belonging to the Princess of Brandiforti, where she makes herself indispensable. This relentless process of emancipation goes along with a journey of personal growth and sexual awakening, which lead her to discover and claim the right to pleasure and happiness.
Review
⭐ 4.5 / 5 ⭐
I thought this was a movie but since it's a mini series I watched it anyway. (not so mini tho, just 6 ep but one hour or more per ep)
The Art of Joy is not for everyone. Right from the start, the tone makes it clear that this is a twisted story, and as such, you have to be open to it. At no point does it claim to be a romance or a role model; it’s taboo fiction that subverts notions of sexuality and desire within the Christian framework. In many scenes it seeks to make the audience uncomfortable; in many others, the tension of that taboo, the pacing, the cinematography and the acting create a delightful combination that fuels the chemistry between the characters.
If there’s one thing that defines this series, it’s taboo, sex and ambition. Sexuality in a thousand forms, morally right and wrong: sexual violence, sex as economics, as manipulation, as domination, as a tool. But also as pleasure, as desire, love, admiration, connection...
The cinematography is sensual, intimate, yet at the same time performative and dramatic. It feels like a film in terms of quality and budget. The lead character is meticulously written; she is complex, contradictory, realistic. She is built up before your eyes; you see her beneath all that manipulation and façade, and yet she still manages to surprise you without feeling out of character. And what can I say about the actress? I’m absolutely blown away by how chameleon-like she is. At times she looks like a little girl in the arms of her Beatrice. At others, a matriarch with an iron fist. The anger, the fear, the desire. Her expressiveness is priceless. That girl was born to be an actress.
Limbs made for the intercourse of the flesh... The intercourse, may God protect us. The ephemeral grace of bodies, may God save and free us. The desire, may God strike us down. They had God, I wanted life. And to life they opposed words like "evil", "hell", "obedience", "sin".
If you want to join the marathon here is the list.
When a zombie apocalypse breaks out in Brooklyn on the night of a giant warehouse party, a group of drag queens and club staff must put aside their drama and use their unique skills to fight against the brain-thirsty undead.
Review
⭐ 2.5 / 5 ⭐
I love the concept, I think it’s genuinely original and camp, but the execution isn’t what I expected. I like that the special effects are practical and tacky, but the script is weak, predictable and it gets a bit boring at times. Right from the start, there are too many characters and too many storylines. And the worst thing is that I didn’t even like 90% of the characters.
The cast is diverse and it’s cool to see these types of people on screen, but the acting is inconsistent; there are good actors alongside others who aren’t so good. Some of them I've seen before and are more suited for other kinds of roles and genres.
The humour is sooo american, and although I understood all the references because US' culture is everywhere and inescapable, the jokes didn’t make me laugh. Humour is a very personal thing, and I suppose it just didn’t click with me.
I was really looking forward to watching this movie and I was quite disappointed.
"- It's life or death
+ It's both, it's always both"
If you want to join the marathon here is the list.
Kasumi Sobata knows she doesn't have sexual nor romantic attraction for anyone. Furthermore, she doesn't crave a normative married life. But it seems like everyone around her can't stop talking about marriage.
Review
⭐ 4.5 / 5 ⭐
It has a simple yet raw slice-of-life style, very characteristic of Japanese productions. The sound design complements the film’s tone, and whilst the cinematography isn’t particularly striking, it doesn’t set out to be. For such a simple story, flashy cinematography would only distract from what it aims to convey.
The script is well written, weaving together small details throughout the story to provide the viewer with points of reference—something very necessary in this kind of plot where there is no defined conflict or possible solution, just the everyday life of Sobata. The plot alternates moments of human connection, joy and tranquillity with the constant, suffocating pressure of amatonormativity and the abrupt breakups of those connections. It's hard to watch how the protagonist constantly believes she is connecting fully with like-minded people. How even those people initiate that connection and give her hopes of living on the margins, of having relationships outside the norm. Only for them all to eventually succumb to heteronormativity and leave Sobata behind.
I like that Sobata has a strong connection with nature, as aromanticism and asexuality are often seen as something contrary to human nature. Surrounded by nature is when she finds herself at peace, no need to row against the current.
I really liked the actress; I think she fits the narrative style perfectly, conveying great naturalness and a body language with layers of emotional depth.
I wasn't expecting that ending, as a conclusion to a story that has no possible resolution. I didn’t expect to cry, but I suppose I identified so strongly with the protagonist and what she must have been feeling at that moment that, before I knew it, I was in tears.
"+ Why do you like the way he runs in that film?
- In all his other films, Tom Cruise is running towards something with a purpose. But in The War of the Worlds he’s simply running away. I suppose I can relate to that more."
"- Why did you invite me to the movies?
+ It made me happy. Knowing I wasn't alone. That there is someone like me. I just needed to meet someone like me."
If you want to join the marathon here is the list.
sometimes it's so very draining that the majority of aro content is about fictional relationships.
irl, i live alone. irl, i am disabled. irl, that intersection and my lack of interest in partnering actively makes life really hard. everything is expensive. i can't always cook when i want to or have fresh ingredients, because my symptoms don't care if I want to cut up vegetables and eat something homemade before they go bad. if I have a bad flareup and getting up is not in the cards, that's it. i have what's next to me. the lack of social support for single folks, for disabled folks, for folks whose family care is inadequate or damaging... it's impactful.
I talk about how i once visited a place with an ex partner. i mention how our relationship started because i was pressured into it, and i wasn't really into the level of seriousness and 'forever' she treated it with. everyone says it's weird that i agreed if i didn't want it to be serious. i remember being 16, saying no, and a chorus of people telling me i was stupid and immature, that her family was rich, that we would be cute and to listen to them, not my heart. my heart was saying nothing.
i look at my current age and life goals. for many of my peers, dating and marriage and eventual kids are common goals. i am watching my rights erode and trying to practice good mental hygeine. my five year goal is to be alive. my next major life milestone is a nebulous desire to find a life i can tolerate living.
being aromantic significantly impacts my day to day. i want to see aro people living their lives, and doing so with joy. i want to see aro adults making it, ones like me. i want aro people to thrive. i want to live, aromantically.
i scroll the aro tag. it's fandom and shipping and asexual posts.
I've been tagged in three different versions of this game so I'm gathering all of them here. Thank you @motanghulu here, @ohmysea here and @watchthisqqq here for tagging me, this was fun!
This is the game you guys realize that I have too much time on my hands and an addiction to watching series. I may not post about all the shows I watch because sometimes I don't have much to say anyway. But I assure you I watch EVERYTHING.
The only ones I didn't watch from the lists are because I actively don't want to watch them lol.
green = finished
red = dropped/dnf
purple = finished skipping parts / watched only one couple or character storyline
□ = haven't watched / don't want to watch
Tagging: @moon0fairy @cherryghostgeneral @baibixin @gay-wrongs-activist no pressure, you can do only one of the lists, or two, or three, or none, just do whatever you want.
This is something I've been thinking about doing for ages, but my list of QLs with real (vs. they shoulda been) poly themes was so small and didn't seem to be growing that it never seemed worth the bother. But that list has slowly been growing, so I think it's time! I'll try to keep this post updated as more come out. Roughly organized by my favorite depictions for various reasons.
3 Will Be Free
This remains my favorite of all poly QLs. It’s a pretty cool crime/action story--I love a QL with a good plot--and the three main characters have some of the most real-feeling chemistry of any poly show I've seen. Male stripper (Joss), girl who works at a gogo bar (Mild) and son of a rich gangster (Tay) go on the run after killing one of the gang in a conflict. Feelings develop between the three fugitives. Somewhat ambiguous ending as to whether they stay together (if they do it's not as a closed triad) but they definitely still love each other. It’s super good!
Configuration: F/M/M threeway (+M) / Heat: medium / Romance/chemistry: high / Happy ending? Arguable, but I think so
Deep Night
These guys were a subplot but a really great one, my favorite (so far) film depiction of polyamory ever, actually. The series itself is a mixed bag in terms of quality and plot coherence but I enjoyed it overall and it’s worth it especially for this incredible poly storyline. If like me you ever watched a love triangle series with three perfectly lovely people and shouted at the screen "you have two hands!" or "poly is the answer!", this show is balm for the soul. It's one of my two favorite cinematic depictions, next to 3 Will Be Free. Both handled the subject tremendously well, capturing not only the innate sexiness of threeways but the trust, communication, vulnerability and unselfishness needed to make them a lasting success.
(Note: There is a Deep Night special episode that's mostly a recap/clips show of what happened in the series, but there are just a few new moments with the throuple, so it's worth a skim at least.)
Configuration: M/M/M threeway / Heat: medium / Romance/chemistry: high / Happy ending? Yes!
Sannin Fufu / Two Husbands One Wife
I myself am in a three-person marriage and though this was a very lighthearted take on the subject, man so much was relatable. First off, finding common ground on housework and habits can cause WAY more conflict than perceived jealousy lmao. Second, the legality stuff is such a big deal! I kinda thought a threeway relationship would be a carefree affair but if you really want to make sure everyone is protected and taken care of, there’s a lot of paperwork and discussion involved—wills and healthcare directives and adoption papers and such. Three, coming out is a constant process. If someone meets only one of my partners or I mention one, they assume I’m either gay or straight and I have to decide if I’m going to awkwardly reveal my whole relationship.
In a way this goofy little comedy was almost too real to be escapist for me, but I loved seeing this depiction of poly—anything that resembles representation of my life in media is almost nonexistent. It was really heartwarming and got me slightly emotional to see it. My only small quibble about the show is I’d’ve liked to see a bit more romance or intimacy—even just a couple more kisses or signs of arousal between them. Other than that I thought it was fantastic.
Configuration: M/F/M (starts off a V with the woman at the center but doesn't stay that way / Heat: none / Romance/chemistry: mild / Happy ending? Yes!
Black Out!! (aka Blackout)
This Chinese short (45 minutes) was the first alI-male main-plot poly BL I ever saw, so I won't complain about its flaws. Do I have other poly stories I'd like to see told besides unsatisfied couple meets someone who reignites the spark? Heck yeah. But I think for a short it managed to show how the three-way dynamic worked so well for these guys. Clearly they were going to continue pursuing the relationship and I could already see how they balanced each other out. Basically they were chaos gremlins with a third of a brain cell each, so at least together they have one whole brain cell to share! Their ridiculousness was part of the charm. I would've loved a longer series that followed their relationship a bit more.
Configuration: M/M/M / Heat: medium / Romance/chemistry: medium / Happy ending? More like a happy beginning, but I'd say yes!
Kita-kun ga Kawai Sugite Te ni Amaru no de, 3 Nin de Share Suru Koto ni Shimashitabut (aka Kita-kun Is Too Cute to Handle, So the 3 of Us Decided to Share Him! aka Kita-kun, Our Shared Love)
This one, while interesting all the way through, can be a little challenging because you can't tell why the center of this polycule is so passive, floating through life like an amiable leaf on the breeze. His partners struggle with it too, wondering if he's truly passionate about their relationship or just being agreeable. But all will be explained, and pretty satisfyingly too.
There are lots of things to love about this one, including how they portray jealousy; the different reactions of neighbors, family and coworkers; and making domesticity work.
It can be a little hard to track down for English-only speakers, but this lovely person put together English-subbed eps and shared the links!
Configuration: M/F/F/M (basically a harem, though one of the harem does develop a brief crush on another / Heat: none / Romance/chemistry: mild / Happy ending? Yes!
Between Complete and Incomplete
Lovely little Korean short about a male couple who want to bring a third into their relationship. The third is asexual and I'm not the most knowledgeable in that area but the depiction feels positive and sympathetic. This one deals with great themes such as insecurity about perceived imbalances when you start to realize the connections between individuals are not going to be identical in nature (and of course the asexual character's doubts about whether it'll work to get involved).
Interesting short series that feels more like a pitch deck or pilot at times; there's a lot of voiceover about what's happening and what people are thinking when it'd be quite clear without that. A girlfriend-boyfriend couple meet a girl and they swiftly get together and date for about a year. This one deals with some interesting things about other people's reactions and how to set your own relationship guidelines when you've never had a poly relationship before. (And how it's hard to set guidelines when bodies and hearts may be on their own track.)
Ultimately it was frustrating; they deal with some of their issues but others that seem relatively mild if they would just communicate better instead cause rifts. Of course this is all too common; I've had many poly-curious friends with short-lived threesomes that seem to break up over (from the outside) small, fixable things.
Configuration: M/F/F / Heat: medium / Romance/chemistry: medium / Happy ending? No; it's not tragic or devastating but not happy either
Only Friends
Yes, this is a blink-and-you'd-miss-it depiction of poly but I still think it's worth mentioning. Boston's character, not wanting to lose Nick but knowing he's not monogamous, proposes an open dating scenario where they can be more committed but he is free to be with other people. He oversteps a boundary Nick is uncomfortable with and instead of discussing it and finding a middle ground, Nick breaks it off (and then comes back in season 2 solely to ream Boston out for being a bad boyfriend, which is aggravating). In this one case at least, Boston was badly misunderstood when he was trying to find way to make it work. Oh well.
Configuration: M/M [+ M x ?] / Heat: high / Romance/chemistry: high / Happy ending? No
Unforgotten Night
This is a very small subplot in a not-very-good series, but it does bear mentioning because they have a whole ass three-way shower makeout scene and then, at the main characters' wedding banquet, it's hinted that it's more than just a one-time fooling-around. It may be a crumb in a kinda dumb show, but I still celebrate it!
Configuration: M/M/M / Heat: medium / Romance/chemistry: mild / Happy ending? Kinda (they weren't really the focus so hard to say, but it didn't end sad!)
Y Destiny
OK, I might be stretching here, because one of these guys is a ghost that the others can't see (but can sort of feel). But something about this story about the dead boyfriend of one character not only supporting him getting with another, but taking part in their lives in his own way, just has a real poly energy to it. Perth himself (the guy who plays the ghost boyfriend) has said that it's kind of a polyamorous love story!
Configuration: M/M/M (kinda) / Heat: mild / Romance/chemistry: mild / Happy ending? Well, he's dead, but happy for his boyfriend so, kinda?
Bonus Content: "White Rabbit" MV (Daou Pittaya)
It's only 3 minutes and some change, but this poly-themed Tpop video feels worth a mention--especially since it's from an undisputed king of BL!
Configuration: M/M/F / Heat: high / Romance/chemistry: medium / Happy ending? Daou seems pleased with himself and his girl and boy toys don't seem to mind sharing so...
Another bonus: Besides my "they shoulda been poly" post, here's one I made about poly (real and ghost ships)! It's just pictures but it's pretty pictures.
💬 1 🔁 5 ❤️ 15 · Ten of My Favorite Ships · (Ghost and otherwise; poly edition)
Tagged by @befuddledcinnamonroll (thank you!!)
Rules: Wit
I also want to mention some other poly or possibly poly shows that I haven't seen yet. If I do ever watch them and they're poly, I'll edit to add a mini-review above, but for now these are just FYIs in case you wanted to try and track them down.
Me, My Husband, and My Husband's Boyfriend. Japanese Drama - 2023, 10 episodes. explicit m/m/f
Wheels and Axle. Japanese Movie - 2023. explicit m/f/m?
Kanojo ga Sore mo Ai to Yobunara. Japanese Drama - 2025, 10 episodes. explicit f/m/m/m, harem type arrangement?
See You on the Other Side. Japanese Special - 2019, 1 episode. explicit f/f/m?
Unlock Your Heart. Japanese Movie - 2021. love triangle to very much implied f/f/m (m possible asexual)
Tinted with You. Korean Drama - 2021, 8 episodes. love triangle, hinted at m/m/m
My Mate Match. Thai Drama - 2021, 5 episodes. love triangle, hinted at m/m/m
[id. Digital doodle of Eddie from Deadloch hugging Triple Pet, their pet crocodile (not at scale). end id]
Right! Now I'd like to say a few words about Triple Pet, my crocodile brother.
Triple Pet, you loved eating. Um, specifically pets. Three of them, to be exact.
I wanted to answer with this video to Ben's post about butch powerful women in mainstream media but apparently embedding a video on a reblog is not a possibility :/
There are barely no masculine women in mainstream media, powerful or not, and when there are, they are not allowed to be queer. I really like Aria Velz as a content creator and media critic, and I think this video explains my frustration perfectly.
It also doesn't allow for gender noncomformity to be actually non-conforming, since it all caters to, at the end, maintain the overall cis-heteronormativity of media. Like Aria says, at the very end of the story, the characters still perform gender in a way that's digestible for the majority of audiences.
I wanted to answer with this video to Ben's post about butch powerful women in mainstream media but apparently embedding a video on a reblog is not a possibility :/
There are barely no masculine women in mainstream media, powerful or not, and when there are, they are not allowed to be queer. I really like Aria Velz as a content creator and media critic, and I think this video explains my frustration perfectly.
