There are not many BLs emanating from Cambodia and certainly recently only sporadically. And that is too bad. Much like Vietnam, they tend to tell comprehensive narratives of love from a perspective of a solid beginning, an intensively creative middle, and a romantic end. In addition to telling a chronology in a simply ordinary manner, for which the storytelling creates the feeling that anyone’s life can end up being a fairytale romance. They are stories about ordinary people meeting their love in unexpected everyday ways as well. These moments highlight the allure of chance encounters in love, quietly drawing us in and making us believe that everyone has the potential to be loved.

A group of students is given an assignment by their professor to gain knowledge and understanding of how rice is produced and then manufactured and to become cognizant and appreciative of what makes Cambodian rice so unique and why that is so. Indeed, it might fast be becoming a lost art as well as science to fully appreciate the understanding and awareness of the intricacies and delicacies in the process of rice production. Hence, these students were assigned to go to a rice mill and experience the various stages of rice production from its planting to its distribution.

One of the students, Sam (Ra De) initially starts out on the wrong side of the equation with the assigned group leader, who is Sal (Leang Ngorng). While both seem to have a discord between them, it is more like an undefined sexual tension. Literally, from the beginning, one could sense and feel that both were attracted to each other. Sam, with his sun-colored hair and gregarious personality, is almost the opposite of Sal, who is also astonishingly handsome but laconic, serious, and keeps to himself.

As the days roll by, the two of them naturally gravitate towards one another so that even the others note their closeness. Innuendoes, long looks at one another, and simply lingering behind to be together are quite obvious. By the end of their mentorship, it is evident that parting from one another is difficult, and they do not want to separate. Obviously, they exchange information and promise to visit each other.

However, feelings have deepened, perhaps more than each realized. Each cannot stop thinking about the other. Sam decides to go visit Sal at his resort. The two are getting even closer. The scenes of them together in the countryside and in the resort area are cinematically captured with precision and are quite charming and captivating. The whole environment looked idyllic and certainly makes visiting that place desirable. While both obviously like each other, neither can make the big move into a serious commitment.

One day, Sal’s close female childhood friend comes to visit. Her presence seems to cut Sam out of the picture as Sal becomes devoted to her. And jealousy ensues with a level of defeatism overtaking Sam. While Sal is confused as to why Sam is so angry with him, Sam screams out, “I love you. That is why I came.” He also says he now knows that he does not have a chance anymore, and thanks him sarcastically for his rejection before he could even give him a chance to confess how he feels.

Yet before Sal could fully explain, Sam takes off back to his home where, of course, Sal races to catch up to Sam. He tries several times to explain how he and his friend awkwardly sought a clearer response from Sam, since Sal was unsure of Sam’s feelings toward him. Sal, too, truly loves him as well.

Although there are several supporting roles in this series and all are believable, the center stage remains focused on the main protagonists. Ra De as Sam and Leang Ngorng as Sal are hard to divert your eyes from. Both handsome, of course, and both play the roles with such intensity and passion. This is obviously a small-budget production and so much has to be packed in a short period of time. And these guys gave us a full range of emotions. Much must be conveyed and shown between them to make us feel like they could be a couple in a short period of time. Especially their jealous and hurt scenes. All that felt so real and genuine. Both these guys have tremendous screen chemistry together, and they made their characters quite believable in that short period of time.

The cinematography of this series is very, very good and extraordinary. This series is astonishingly unique in that it is an amalgamation of an educational film, a travelogue, and a BL all wrapped up in one cinema. For those of us from the West, we have NO IDEA of the intricacies of growing rice. Most of us just see the cooked version. This taught us to be mindful of its value to societies and to those whose livelihood depends upon it. It also shows the various countrysides of Cambodia and its exotic locations. Finally, it also gave us a solid, surprisingly strong and dynamic love story, and I was taken aback by its straightforwardness.

Although this overall is a solid production, several deficiencies diminished its impact on me. While I deeply appreciate the translations, I am not too sure that the expressions and actual meanings were appropriately translated into English. Some of the dialogue sounded a bit wonky to me. Second, the ending feels a bit frantic with too much rushing to try to find a conclusion. I wanted and would like to have seen a greater unfolding for Sam and Sal to happen. Third, which is an unreserved pet peeve of mine, I detest unnecessary physical violence. When Sam hit Sal when Sal comes running after him trying to explain his side of the story and Sam punches him, I am done. I saw no need for that excessive force. If you truly loved someone, you would not hit the person you just said you loved. I hated that scene, and it took away from the enlightenment of who Sam was becoming. That is so disheartening to me. And the fourth deficit was the kissing between Sam and Sal. While they certainly ‘tried’, both looked uncomfortable and very, very awkward when kissing. It looked and felt like this was the first time they had kissed another guy and that would have been okay if it then went from an awkward stage to one of more relaxed where they enjoyed the physicality of the kisses. Remember, you were supposed to be in love! One cannot look awkward or appear to be waiting for the word ‘cut’ to be heard so they can stop. It felt and looked uncomfortable, and it was filmed at awkward angles to try and cover up obvious deficiencies in these scenes. That was disappointing. And fifth, while I know this is a limited budget series, try getting a little extra funds for a ‘kissing coach’ to help with the awkwardness and nuances of the act of kissing. Since this is a love story (BL), you want to make the physicality of their relationship as comfortable for them and as believable for the audience as you can.

But overall, I really enjoyed this series a lot and deeply appreciated the way the various themes were woven into the presentation and execution.

Rating: 4.75 out of 5

Streaming on- CorneX Station YouTube Channel