Tanya T

Absolutely A+ TV. So much depth, texture, complexity, insight. Details, details. So beautiful, phenomenally-written. Excellent tension, conflict, humor, vulnerability, social commentary, satire, humanity. Loads of creativity and authenticity. Near-flawlessly acted. Its just... so good.

Cults are so disturbing and the damage they do so equally heartbreaking and enraging. This one is particularly sinister for the way it undermines the struggle for trans rights and acceptance. And poor Marlee... her story... jesus christ. I hope she can heal, heal, heal. There's just SO many other totally unqualified life- and relationships "coach" grifters out there. I've known at least three of them personally. It just.... it makes your head spin. Scamming hopeful people out of so much money. It's so gross. I really hope this documentary leads to the demise of these... there's just no word for them. Evil pieces of human garbage.

Solid meh. And SO LONG. There's something for everyone and this just wasn't for me. People praised the acting, realism, soundtrack... I cannot agree. Not enough character development of A-Hao to feel his suicide. No chemistry between A-Ho and any other character (except maybe his cellmate). The scene on the phone was good. And what is realistic about this story? Maybe out of touch parents working blue-collar jobs? Certainly not standing wistfully on a bridge with blood all over your face. Also what's up with the weird almost farcical and ultra-random moments? The party popper at the marriage? The old man in the park with the slippers? The whirling leaves? Also, murder is not love. Women can do more than cry and look woeful, or stand meekly. The final scene is dripping with a syrupy, forced poignancy I didn't care for. Yes, I get the symbolism with the sun, but a woman gazing at a glinting sun for far too long when I was so, so ready for it to be over was agony for me. The journals, too-- more forced poignancy. I just... had hoped for much more. Cinematography was pretty. I did like having a closer look at Taiwanese culture (criminal justice, education, homes). Make it a judicious hour shorter and I could even give it a 3rd star. But I would never rewatch. Also.. as a personal aside... gangsters are absurd adult children who never learned how to use their words. The sooner they go extinct, the better.

Powerful and tense. It's a simple but compelling story told honestly and acted, directed, and produced beautifully.

Horrifying. This was "professional" once. None of it makes sense. Why are the men naked in an empty room? Why are they harassing that man? Why is the doctor inserting a feeding tube with a cigarette in his mouth? Why did they keep cutting to the shot of the cadaver? Why did someone piece together all this random footage and call it a documentary? This wasn't that long ago. ...and have we even come very far...?

Oh my lord! I'm so mad/sad. Talented cast, important subject matter, but just.... 1h40 of absolute nonsense. Truly, NONE of it makes realistic sense. ONE. HOUR. FORTY.

It's not flawless, but its refreshing on so many levels. The concept, the cast, the blending of drama and comedy, the acting, the perspectives, the complexity of characters. There's spicy good here that its easy to overlook occasional poorer acting or occasionally frustrating it inconvenient writing.