Slow burn

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I agree with all of your main points, especially about the chemistry between the leads. Two moments in particular are almost unbearably tense. First, after the race, the camera shows M's hand on E's stomach and you could feel how electric that touch must have felt for the two characters. And then M, I think without any agency of his own but rather pure desire, starts to go in for a kiss as E walks away. Chiarino is amazing in this scene. Realizing he is losing control, he swallows and then has a WTF did I just almost do look, and then a smile. All wordless and very sexy. Second, the very tense rejection scene when M does go in for the kiss. The gentle interaction as M brushes the leaves out of E's hair, then hand on E's chest, and the way Chiarino looks at Vignau's eyes then lips before grabbing his head for the kiss. Then the looks they both give each other after the rejection. Amazing. I compare the chemistry to something like 1987's MAURICE. A very well-made prestige film, but Wilby and Grant were such duds and had zero chemistry. Wilby and Graves were somewhat better together but still no sizzle -- something the Edwardian-era novel managed to get get across.

Also agree that this is best gay romance I've seen in terms of overall cinematic experience -- filmed beautifully, great story, appropriately dramatic music score, and -- most importantly -- great, largely wordless acting by two charismatic leads. Again chemistry is key for romance and you clearly felt these men were falling in love. Helps that they are both very sexy, very handsome men.

Finally, I also agree that a longer more intense kiss would have been wonderful to see, given the tension. But I understand the choice. E is much more guarded than M. He may think his giving up a lot in his mind -- everything he thinks he is and his place in society -- while M has nothing to lose. This is E going in for the kiss, more tentatively, embracing his destiny.


I have some screenshots of Hawaii and Plan B on Flickr if you or anyone else is interested.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/73958117@N03/sets/72157647532826435/

I liked the "pecking" In my mind it was congruent with the story. Two people negotiating their feelings about each other to finally arrive at a point of reciprocated warmth rather than lust.

Very impressed with this film. I loved Plan B as well. The director has a real gift for finding actors that have unbelievable chemistry without them getting overly intimate. I also liked the two main leads in Plan B but I felt like the closeness was a bit more real between these two. The whole film was beautiful to look at..not just the actors. Like others pointed out I would have liked to have seen a longer more intense kiss (who wouldn't between these two? ;)) but I understand why small and tender kisses made more sense bearing in mind the two characters and being apprehensive but realizing they are both interested in each other at the same time. I wish more films were like this. So much was being expressed but it seemed so effortless and simple.

eh i found it a little boring and i only got better near the third part of the film. I noticed the director with this and his newer film Taekwondo (2016) where there is awkward pausing and literally no dialogue for most of the film which kinda let me drift off from the film and like Takewondo didn't make me feel connected to any of main characters.