Demonstrating remarkable versatility, Taiwanese filmmaker Leste Chen followed up his popular 2005 horror film The Heirloom with this sensitive, low-key, gay-themed melodrama that earned critical acclaim but only a marginal theatrical release in limited U.S. markets. The story essentially revolves around a three-way romance, with one character, the shy but studious Jonathan (Bryant Chang), coming to terms with his homosexuality after being assigned as a "guardian angel" to a rebellious classmate named Shane (Joseph Chang) in what will become a long-lasting friendship. Flashing forward 10 years, the film finds Jonathan meeting Carrie (Kate Yeung), a new girl in school, who's attracted to Jonathan, but comes to the conclusion that he's secretly in love with Shane, with whom she gradually enters into an increasingly serious relationship while Jonathan wrestles with his sexual identity crisis. A carefully observed, melancholy study of troubled adolescence, Eternal Summer features fine performances by the young leads, playing complex characters who are given the room to develop into real and believable individuals. An art house film that deserves a larger U.S. audience, this is recommended. (J. Shannon)
Eternal Summer
Picture This, 95 min., in Mandarin w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: $26.95 Volume 23, Issue 3
Eternal Summer
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As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
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