the barefoot baklesa reviews: Takumi-kun: And the Spring Breeze Whispers

BL and Yaoi fans, this is for you...
There are movies that people watch when they're down that suddenly makes the day a little better. I have known a fair few that consider the movie, The Sound of Music, as one one movie to watch to drive the dark clouds away -a little too squeaky clean for your taste, huh? Then, allow me to share with you my latest discovery, that BL- YAOI movie that drives those dark clouds away for me: Takumi Sashite Haruka Zeni [ Takumi-kun Series: And the Spring Breeze Whispers ].


Takumi-kun Series: And the Spring Breeze Whispers

Based on the widely popular yaoi novel by Gotoh Shinobu, it tells the story of Hayama Takumi, a high school student from an all-boys boarding school who has what the translated subtitles call 'human phobia' -roughly an estimation of the anti-social behavior displayed by Takumi rooted to some childhood trauma. As the new schoolyear begins, Takumi gets assigned to the same living quarters as Saki Giichi -nicknamed Gii. A boy who earlier had spared Takumi from being hit by a plate of rice and beef curry by a bully.

I'm kind of new to the BL-YAOI scene so pardon me for listing down the few plot elements i find common among some of the animated and live action versions i have seen. When it comes to Gakuen [school] set stories, there's always some childhood connection that the story must unravel, a memory lost or suppressed that would surface years later, and there's the sudden profession of love which springs from Cupid knows where that leaves one wanting a moment like that to happen for real.

I forgot to mention this earlier: originally the BL-YAOI writers of Japan were female. What made the genre unique to Japanese pop-culture is that they were originally intended for a female audience from female writers.

Okay, and we're back on track...So, Gii likes Takumi -no surprise there, right? Projectile beef curry isn't something you get in the way of for just anybody. Apparently, when Takumi was still a child learning the violin, Gii was there during one of his performances and had liked him since then. Gii himself is a popular guy on campus, having grown up abroad and heir to a multi-national company, he is not without admirers. An all boys school with all boy admirers, where was that school when I was growing up? Hahahaha!!!

I mean, who wouldn't fall in love with a guy who finds a way to fly in the concert violinist you admire and have him perform at your school?

Not without its complications, Gii has to fight for Takumi's love through a wager he has to win to protect Takumi from the obsessive advances of another boy. Now, I don't know what it is with this particular type of hug, but I've seen it in quite a few asian series. You know that moment when the one you love is walking away and you hug or hold on to him from the back, asking him to stay? Takumi and Gii share a moment like this as Takumi holds on to Gii in the rain while training for a race that Gii must win[from the Korean series "Princess Hours" to "Full House" and a Japanese one called "Hana Yori Dango", the sight is all too familiar]. Then again, who wouldn't want to be held that way? To stay that way -even in the rain- cherishing that moment while it lasts because it's so fleeting? I think you get the point...

I have come to expect something from the Yaoi genre that I call the 'Epiphany' or 'A-ha! Moment' where the past unravels and the secrets are revealed [some often built-up by devices such as flashbacks etcetera]. I won't go into the details because you've got to experience that for yourself.

Don't worry, unlike most of the movies i recommend and review here, this one ends happily. Didn't I tell you earlier that it's one to take the dark clouds away?

If it's going to be a series of sequels for this one, then I can't wait for the next one...

here's more about takumi