Bokura No Ai No Kanade (2008)

I'm really surprised no one has done a review of this film. I loved it except for the ending. But this actually falls into a genre with a long tradition in poetry and literature - the age old tale of "courtly love" - you can trace it back to Genji or mediaeval Europe - courting the loved one and sacrificing everything for him (or her in the European tradition). Gay lovers were not subject to the same discrimination in the Chinese and Japanese  (until Meiji) traditions (see e.g. Ihara Saikaku's The Great Mirror of Male Love). Plus there has to be a villain - and that music teacher brought something coldly sinister to it (ugh!). The music of Debussy was a bonus. A gem of a movie - but I was hoping he'd match the love shown him and return at last. Life's not like that, is it? Pity. A beautiful movie. What happened to Tsuyoshi Hataya?

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For some time I've been putting off watching this due to the low rating that oftentimes indicates dreadful things happening in BL movies. Now I finally gave it a try and I am glad I did!
It is a rather sweet and dreamy love story between two male students of music. There is Debussy and a lot of sweet scenes in which the music and the acting are quite enough to create an amazing atmosphere.
The main flaw of this movie (and the reason I did not rate it higher) is hard to explain without spoilers. One boy does something for the one he loves and the movie kind of rushes over it without really dealing with it. For me that was one of the main story impacts and while they take their time showing the development of romance in the beginning and middle parts (which I enjoyed very much), it seems as if they ran out of time to tie everything neatly together to make it great. That is such a pity! I do feel as if I've been thrown out of the movie theatre half an hour too early.

Even that is so, I will still watch this again sometime, it is all in all a sweet story with beautiful music.

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I'll start by saying that the music was great. I'm not a big fan of piano music and I'm not an expert either, but I really liked the melodies chosen for this movie. They set the right atmosphere and help us understand what the director meant when he chose "Melody of our love" as the title of the movie.

The story is simple and easy to follow, with no big twists and turns; with the exception of some events used to revive the plot. Despite it's simplicity, I appreciated the way the director portrayed different approaches to love.

We can clearly see from the beginning that Maki is more experienced and easygoing as regards sexual and emotional relationships, maybe also thanks to his extroverted temper; not to talk about the fact that he's also more confident about his sexual orientation. On the other hand Ruiku seems to be uncertain on what to do and clearly still has to put some thought into who he really is. Moreover his reluctant behavior could be linked at first to his introverted personality, but the more we watch the movie the more we realize that everything is caused by lack of love during his childhood; which made him overthink about his right to be loved by others.

Perhaps were right these differences that made them suitable for each other. As a fact we can't deny that they're the opposite one of the other, but this reconfirms the saying that opposites do attract each other.

Towards the end of the movie another theme is introduced but not quite developed. It is the corruption that occurs between teachers and students, which I have seen portrayed in many asian series and movies. But as I said in this one it is not quite developed and just used as a way to develop the story.

Also the end is an open ending, which left me quite disappointed; but overall I liked this movie and I would recommend it during a rainy day or to everyone who needs a pause.

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Love and music dominate here. I don't understand where the previous reviewer put his ears when he gave the sound a three out of ten in this film, and yet it is a film that revolves around playing the piano, and the delicious music of Debussy is an absolute bonus. The second bonus in this film is love, courtly love from medieval times, transferred to the form of the twenty-first century. Ruiku's best student has no idea how much of a "sacrifice" Maki has to make for the examining professor to postpone his final exam due to his hand injury. And at the same time, Ruiku first rejects Maki's love... Nice, pleasant, not offensive in any way.



Láska a hudba zde dominují. Nechápu, kam dal předchozí recenzent uši, když zvuk ohodnotil v tomto filmu třemi body z deseti, a přitom je to snímek, který se točí kolem hry na klavír a je v něm naprostým bonusem lahodná Debussyho hudba. Druhým bonusem v tomto filmu je láska, dvorská láska z dob středověkých, přenesená do podoby jednadvacátého století. Nejlepší student Ruiku ani netuší, jak velkou "oběť" musí podstoupit Maki, aby mu zkoušející profesor odložil termín závěrečné zkoušky kvůli zranění jeho ruky. A přitom Ruiku lásku ze strany Makiho nejdříve odmítá ... Hezké, příjemné, nijak neurážející.

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I can say that it's one of the best bl storyline I've ever watched.

At first I was really confuse how their story will end up but the last part just gave me chills, The story is very simple yet so good, the story touched my heart and the acting is really good. The flow of the story was good though I didn't like some. I really love how the relationship of the two develop. I thought the story will focus on the present but I didn't notice that it took almost an hour watching their story, They gave us an open ending so it's normal for us to ask a continuation of their story, I badly need that. I dont know why the ratings is low but Imma give this series a 10/10, It didn't waste my time. I hope there's a continuation for this.

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hmmm where to start - first off i don't get anyone giving this a 10 - like i Know "to each their own etc..." but the acting is bad - the plot - fine in general - but when u break it down, it doesn't flow.. "Ruiku, who plays piano with incredible passion but is cold and distant to everyone..." so why after the second or third time, he ready to teach Maki? that was out of nowhere and didn't go with the image of who this character was. but need to forward the plot, so lets just magically push things the way we want and need, and suddenly Ruiku not so focused on himself - he ready to be bighearted and share his knowledge?!? "OK".

also really disliked Maki, he was a manwhore at the start and the only reason he got "infatuated" - or rather, interested in Ruiku was cause (1) he presented a challenge. (2) he was the first guy to flat-out turn him down. the "smitten " part started after Ruiku hurt himself - even after getting rejected, Maki wasn't "smitten" he was more fixated cause someone he was attracted too, rejected him. yeah he used the word "love" but there was no love as far as i could see -

the big sacrifice was disgusting, and i guess in some twisted way was proof of love - but i don't get why Ruiku couldn't think about how Maki got the postponement - when he couldn't, not without that sick condition.! he doesn't seem stupid (even though his attitude and behavior after breaking his wrist, was making me wonder). so why couldn't he figure that out all on his own, when that pervy sico told him "lend me ur body..." why he not connect the dots is beyond me -
also why he not mention it to Maki, when he told him he'd spoken to the teacher, that old-fart turned him down but was ready to reconsider if he lent him his body - guess he didn't want to face that sh*t?!? oh well

the rest is more evidence that Maki not only loved Ruiku unconditionally, but that he was willing to sacrifice for that love - but it also showed the dude finally matured - so i had no problem with the end. considering the acting, i really had enough and didn't need an additional scene of them reuniting. so a one off -

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