I can’t remember the last time I felt really good after watching a movie. The pandemic forced us to watch movies on the small screens of our gadgets with distractions here and there, in addition to the stress that we are experiencing now.
I’m not new to the boys’ love (BL) subgenre, I’ve seen quite a lot and have been a fan for two years now. And I am happy to write that being the first BL movie in my country, The Boy Foretold by the Stars is beautiful.
What makes the film work is that the chemistry, the story, and the acting didn’t feel like they were trying hard. Everything felt natural. Some may be bothered that the main leads in a young romantic movie are two boys but if people give the story a chance, the film actually blurs the idea that love can only be between a male and a female. And not just because the two are charming and really looked like they were falling for each other, but also because the film presents a stage or phase for young people to discover themselves. And it was presented so well.
It’s not a perfect film, you could feel or see at times that maybe it could have been edited better, but the overall feel of the film is overwhelming. Overwhelming because finally, we have a movie that tackles young love between two boys. And I love that it felt so innocent, the emotions between the two felt pure. This is really how we love when we were young.
This is definitely an impressive directorial debut for Dolly Dulu. And kudos for casting new actors that really get into their characters. Adrian Lindayag’s sincere performance deserves an award. Keann Johnson’s angst and charm transcend the screen, and what a fun role for Iyah Mina!
It may not be the first choice for the family to watch this MMFF, but The Boy Foretold by the Stars is entertaining, has a lot of heart, and shows a great representation of boys’ love or young love. Would I recommend it? Definitely yes.
