Watching this was like savoring a warm cup of tea. I didn't realize that I needed or wanted it, but the rich, sweet comfort that it infused me with leaves me content. Rather than being entertained, I've had something substantive shared with me.

Unlike some of the other BL films/dramas I've watched, this one didn't brazenly shout "love transcends gender." Instead it was a tender exploration of identity, love, forgiveness, prejudice and community centered around the custody battle for a bubbly, head-strong 6-year-old girl. Gender-preference did play a big role in plot and character development, but the underlying themes felt more universal. And while generational differences impacted perspectives, they were not solely determined by age. This easily could have been shown as one of those polarizing situations with good and bad, but it did a beautiful job of exploring layers, intentions and desires to reveal worlds of gray.

And the language was sparse yet brimming with meaning, the dialogue percolated with surprising gems. For example, someone asked Shun if he knew why the elderly talked so much. The response was that they've lived so long they have so much wisdom and experience to share. I could share several others, but some of my favorite lines came from a gruff older man who was a dog owner/hunter in the rural community. He was full of wise perspective without being didactic. At one point (when the 2 MLs each say the other catalyzed his interest in reading) he noted that "meeting someone and being influenced by him is one of life’s great treasures." Basically, it didn't matter who influenced whom, rather the gift was in the symbiosis of the relationship.

Disclaimer: my ratings are fairly stringent, so an 8.5 is REALLY good. I don't pay attention to the OST (I know, oh the horror, for some of you) unless it grates on my nerves and I rarely want to watch dramas/movies again.