Genre: BL, Action, Romance, Drama
Year: 2017
Country: Korea
Plot summary: Two assassins from enemy mobster organizations fall in love without knowing the truth about each other.
Cast:
Chisoo/Flying Dagger (Tak Woo-Suk): He was brought up as an assassin under the wing of his adopted father “Black Rose”, who rescued him from bullies when he was a young boy. Despite being a professional assassin, Chisoo gives off a gentle and shy demeanor, even awkward at times. He finds release from his dangerous life posing as an online fiction writer by the pen name of Flying Dagger.
Gitae/Wild Dog (Yean Seung-Ho): He was raised by his sister after their parents’ death. Living a secret double-life, by day Gitae works at his sister’s restaurant, and by night he is an assassin known by the name of “Wild Dog” from the organization “Black Leopard”. Behind his cheerful and easy-going personality, he hides secrets of his own.
It’s hard to find a partner who loves you as much as you do. Even if you meet someone who equally loves you, going through life causes many cracks. That’s why, Gitae, don’t disappoint someone you love.
Long Time No See
Chisoo and Gitae meet for the first time at a convenience store, in one of those cliche moments where the protagonists bump into each other and exchange an intense look that undeniably foreshadows the relationship to come. The scene itself is simple and nothing new but their distinctively powerful chemistry manages to make the moment memorable.
Soon after their first encounter, they fortuitously cross paths again and learn that Gitae is a die-hard fan of Flying Dagger’s fiction. One thing leads to another and the two men become entangled in a passionate love affair, wrapped in dangerous secrets.
At some point, their worlds collide, and their true identities are revealed, as well as the nature of their relationship, which might not have been coincidental after all. To me, this is the most beautiful moment in the movie. Despite the bittersweet emotions arising from the lies and deceit that unravel their relationship, it is also the moment where their rawest feelings – fears and vulnerabilities – are revealed, without masks or pretenses. It is also here that we can witness the depth of their love and commitment to each other.
Now considered traitors by their former organizations, Chisoo and Gitae must face their past so they can dream of a future together.
The symbolism in the final scene couldn’t be more meaningful. The movie ends on the same note it started, simplistically but profoundly. In the end, the movie conveys the message that unpretentious forgiveness is the backbone of true love, like acceptance and understanding are the cornerstone of family.
As far as BL movies are concerned, this is one of my favorite. Usually, BL movies tend to either have a good storyline or good chemistry, but rarely both. Long Time No See has it all – an exciting storyline filled with both sweet and sexy moments, and incredible chemistry with no hints of awkwardness or discomfort (which is admittedly one of the pitfalls of many BL movies).
Healthy relationship
Even though Chisoo and Gitae are professional assassins, they don’t follow the typical portrayal of this type of character. There is no aggression, violence, or toxicity between them. They truly give the best of themselves to one another and make an effort to keep the dark side of their lives out of their relationship. Their interactions throughout the movie – every touch, every look, and every word – are filled with love and tenderness, and even in moments of adversity, they choose to listen, understand, forgive and embrace each other.
Powerful chemistry
I’ve seen countless BL movies, including Korean ones, and let me tell you, it can be a daunting task to find one where the chemistry between the leads is believable and not cringy. That’s why I was impressed with Tak’s and Yeon’s performance, considering this was their debut as protagonists. They were able to give depth to the characters and bring to life their personalities and backstories with all the ensuing emotions. It was refreshing to watch a BL movie where the leads don’t wince and cringe every time there’s a kissing scene.
Realistic but not tragic
In life, there are those who root for our happiness and support us, and there are others – sometimes even those closest to us – who show us sympathy only to purposely hurt us and exploit our emotional wounds to their own advantage. Long Time No See is set in real life and the obstacles the characters must endure represent the sad and terrifying circumstances of reality. But it’s in the darkness that the brightest lights shine, and Chisoo and Gitae would probably not cherish each other and their love so much – nor would we – if they hadn’t been through hell and experienced angst. Ultimately, love can be a source of hope and strength to overcome anything and everything.
All in all
Long Time No See was produced by Strongberry, a relatively small company that specialized in creating queer content, so the movie had a low budget and isn’t perfect. The plot seems a bit rushed at times and don’t expect crazy Hollywood-style stunts and special effects in the action scenes. But honestly, if you’re in it for the BL essence, you won’t miss any of it. The action scenes were simple but well-executed and the leads’ flawless acting and undeniable chemistry compensate for all the shortcomings.
All things considered, Long Time No See is a delightful and exciting down-to-earth BL movie that will leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling in the stomach by the time you finish watching it.
Long Time No See is available for streaming on Vimeo.
Our rating: ★★★★
