My Strawberry Film (2024)

slice of life with three friends and a newcomer

Overall: a more realistic/angsty vibe. Think of this as a slice of life/coming of age rather than a BL series (because it is not a BL series, see my spoiler comment). 8 episodes about 25 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala.

Content Warning: manipulation

What I Liked
- a few central characters
- glad the guy was interrupted as the other guy was sleeping
- mystery element
- production value (color scheme in particular)

Room For Improvement
- was disappointed because a character knew it was no use but had really high expectations and then had a public breakdown when things went exactly as they knew it would go
- a bit too slow without the mutual tension needed to sustain it
- where did they get that key from, random ropes hanging with a sign which anyone can ignore
- there were opportunities for some clever plot twists but there was nothing
- should not have had this as (especially the last) in the BL time slot

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Have you really watched it to judged it not BL/GL ???

The GL : Mizuki, Murasaki Minami's mother, was in love with her best friend, now teacher Takahashi Kaoru (now married Matsuoka Kaoru). Murasaki Minami came to the school after the video of her mother was posted online by the group who found the original video. She first thought her mother's first love would have been a man, but, it wasn't. She find in herself many similarities with her mother. She showed her interest in Chika. She care a lot for her in a very short time whitch is the first clue, but knows about Chika's interest in Ryo yet not the full story. Chika on the other hand doesn't share the same feeling.

The BL : That is what really upset me the most about some comments. So I will make it clearer to some! Introvert Ichikawa Ryo has been in love for a long time with his classmate extrovert Toyama Hikaru. However, because of the strict Japanese society they live in about gays, he keep his feelings for himself not to bother Hikaru. During the 6 first episodes, Ryo support Hikaru's attraction to Minami. He keep his distance while watching or afar. He tries to let go of him in that way. Everything became more complicated after Chika saw him watching Hikaru sleep. But even knowing that Ryo's heart was taken, she later confess thinking Ryo was letting go of Hikaru during the double "date". But he was only there to show some "support" to his friend and rejected her. After talking to Minami, he thought that he should have tried harder to move on by going out with Chika. She wasn't happy when he asked her and told him that she couldn't be the second place in his heart. On the other hand, Minami rejected Hikaru, telling him she only saw him as a friend. He first thought she was attracted to Ryo, but confirmed she wasn't. His words about how he sees Ryo clearly showed his interest in him. "If I was a girl" clearly showed he wasn't insensitive to Ryo's charm. The story started to become clearer when they met in the playground he asked Ryo if he has feelings for him. Ryo took some time to answer and Hikaru's heart stopped. Ryo just said he likes him.... as a friend, when he saw the fear on Hikaru's eyes. But episode 7 explained us why. Hikaru was attracted by Ryo for a long time. He didn't really understand this feeling, and never saw it as love. But he likes the closeness they share. When he saw Mizuki's video, he was captivated by the look she had looking at the camera. She was clearly in love with the person holding it. It's what attracted him to Minami. He projected her mother's look into her, and wanted to be looked at like that. But Minami never did. The only person who does is Ryo, but he doesn't know Ryo's feelings towards him and that's why he's so confuse. After Minami rejected him and learned the truth about her mother's first love, he realised that the look Mizuki had was for a person of the same sex. But 25 years ago, the view on LGBT was even worse than today, and both woman had to get married with a man and have children, even if they loved each other. At the end of episode 8, Hikaru tells his struggles to Ryo because he realised that Ryo was looking at him the same way Mizuki looked at Kaoru. The confession of love was settle but clear, and they ended up holding each other's hand.

The cinematography was amazing and the way it was written was clearly done by an artist. No kisses, like she did in Zenra Meshi last year (2023) and everything is very settle, like many Japanese BL. April 19, 2024 we'll see what she does with "25 Ji, Akasaka de".

This drama is more cinematographic than other BL. It reminds me of "His" (part 1 in 2019 especially, when they're young) or a movie like "Taiikukan Baby" or "Asymmetry" (Both from 16 years ago in 2008). We can clearly see that it was done by someone who wanted to express feeling through words and pictures instead of skinship. Something that has always been the most difficult thing to do for anyone, gay or straight. Especially deep feelings.

So, my wander is why people said it's not BL and only a one way love for everyone?
If you don"t understand the story, may I suggest you watch it in one go WITHOUT skipping what you would consider "boring scenes". Every words are important !!!

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