His – Movie Review & Ending Explained

Story

Gay parenting

The topic of gay parenting is pretty rare in the BL genre (or any genre, really) for various reasons. This storyline tends to be more serious and mature, which doesn't always appeal to the younger demographic of BL viewers. Plus, gay parenting is a taboo subject matter in many places around the world, especially in the conservative countries of East Asia. There's so little precedence of gay parents in real life that it's difficult to portray representation of them in fiction.

Maybe in the distant future, possibly not in my lifetime, our culture will change. But for now, it's a niche topic in the BL genre, so I applaud His for trying to tell this type of story. I like that the movie tackles bigger themes beyond the romantic relationship, touching upon universal problems faced by many LGBT couples.

I thought the storyline was handled sensitively. The divorce, the custody, and the gossiping felt pretty authentic, even if they weren't always comfortable to watch. If anything, Nagisa and Shun might face more hurtful prejudice in real life, so the movie version of events was relatively mild. I liked how happy Sora seemed under Nagisa and Shun's care, showing us how normal it is for two men to raise a child together.

Romance

Shun and Nagisa

The opening scene makes it difficult to root for Shun and Nagisa to be together. After Nagisa dumped his boyfriend so suddenly, it sets the tone for the rest of the movie and lowers your expectations of any romance. Nagisa has some friggin' nerve to show up at Shun's doorstep years later, with his six-year-old daughter no less. You dumped the guy, left him for another woman, popped out a kid, and now ya want him to take you back!? Get outta here, mofo. 😡

What made it worse is that the breakup had a major psychological impact on Shun. His character almost acts like he's traumatized, unable to open up or get close to anyone again. Years later, it's telling that he still hasn't moved on from his last relationship, holding onto his ex-boyfriend's photos and even his old sweater. Plus, you don't uproot your entire home and move away to the middle of bumfuck, nowhere unless you're really, really unhappy with your life.

You can't help but get the feeling that Shun would've been a different person, perhaps a much happier and more confident guy, had Nagisa stayed by his side all these years. Even with a heartfelt explanation and a groveling apology, it's hard to forgive Nagisa for what he did to Shun.

Reconciliation

Shun must be so patient and understanding to give his ex-boyfriend a second chance. In Nagisa's defense, I do feel like he is genuinely remorseful for what he did. What he could've done is stay in an unhappy marriage, sneak behind his wife's back, and pretend to lead a double life. Instead, Nagisa got a divorce, brought his daughter to meet Shun, and wanted the three of them to spend time together. His actions, even if they came at a hefty price, showed that he prioritized Shun in his life again.

By the end of the movie, I grew more receptive to the idea of Shun and Nagisa as a couple. A part of me saw Nagisa hit rock bottom with his divorce, and I felt sorry for him. Another part of me saw how lonely Shun was, and just wanted someone to introduce a bit of happiness into his life again. In any case, I'm glad Shun and Nagisa got back together, and I hope they actually stay together for good this time.

Acting

Good acting

The two leads were good, but it was the child actor playing Sora who stole the spotlight. I had to look up how old the kid was IRL just because I was astonished by her acting skills, haha. 😄

Not only is she as cute as a button, but she's so natural in front of the camera and delivers all her lines perfectly. She even had a crying scene and nailed it like a professional. This kid is gifted and they struck gold casting her in the movie.

Ending

Sora's custody

We'll never know how the court will rule over Sora's custody case, but the subject isn't as black and right as it may seem. It's easy to villify the ex-wife because she's violent and negligent with her child during a stressful moment. On the flip side, we must acknowledge that Rena is a single working parent, who was massively betrayed by her husband, and even her own mother isn't supportive. While I do not condone her actions, she is in a very sympathetic situation and deserves our understanding.

On the other hand, Nagisa is also an underdog in this custody battle. No matter what they say, his sexuality would've influenced the final court ruling. Here are the facts:

• He is faced with a prejudiced judge, who thinks a gay couple isn't capable of raising a child in a "normal" environment.
• There are implications that the child would face more stress and prejudice being raised by a gay couple.
• It isn't legal for him to get married to his boyfriend, so he can never provide a stable family structure for his kid.

The family court isn't a friendly place for gay men like Nagisa. A lot of the odds are stacked against him just because he's in a same-sex relationship. If Rena didn't get drunk and screw up that one time, I don't think Nagisa would even have a case against his ex-wife. You would think that being a loving and competent parent would be all the credentials he needs to win custody over Sora, but that isn't how the legal system works. ⚖️

Bittersweet ending

When Nagisa announced that he would give up the custody battle, I was kinda pissed off. Did we waste all this time and effort on the storyline just for him to quit in the end!? However, I do understand his justification after listening to his impassioned speech. He brought up a good point that Rena worked really hard to provide a financial stability for their family, and it shouldn't be used to attack her qualification as a mother.

And ultimately, it was Nagisa's conscience that dictated his decision, because he felt guilty for wronging his ex-wife. He married her, he had a child with her, and he promised to build a future with her. Unfortunately, he couldn't make their marriage work, and he couldn't uphold their future either, so the least he can do is let her keep their child. This was a very painful decision, but it shows a lot of maturity and integrity. All throughout the movie, Nagisa has been trying to make amends for his past wrongs, and giving up custody was like his ~final test~.

A month after the court case, we saw some of Rena's struggles as a single mother. She eventually caved in and worked out some sort of casual arrangement for Nagisa to spend time with his child again. The ending of the movie showed Rena speaking to Shun for the first time. She didn't say anything important, but it was momentous because she acknowledged her husband's lover and made an effort to include him. It was her subtle way of extending the olive branch, letting Shun know that she does welcome him into their family unit.

In a way, this is a sweet and sensible ending. Although Shun and Nagisa don't have full custody of Sora, at least they are still together (I hope?). Maybe Rena will be more open to setting up more playdates and visits in the future. This ending is slightly hopeful and open-ended, presenting a compromise to an imperfect situation.

Best Character

Sora

Shun might be a close second, but Sora is actually my favourite character in the movie. She was pretty adorable in many scenes, which was definitely a plus. But the moment Sora won me over was when she sat down with Shun after the funeral. In a simple chat, Sora makes an innocuous remark that she likes seeing Shun together with her father, and she doesn't think there's anything weird about their relationship.

Her comment was so pure, coming straight from the heart without any judgment. She meant what she said, and this six-year-old girl carries more wisdom in her than a lot of other adults.

Skin & Nudity

Shirtless scenes

There are a few shirtless scenes scattered throughout the movie. The opening scene has both leads shirtless in bed with a clear shot of their upper torsos. Later, Nagisa has a shirtless scene when he runs out of the bathroom in just a flimsy towel. Shun couldn't help himself but stare long and hard, before remembering that he's supposed to be angry at his ex-boyfriend lol. 👀

Triggers

Bad parenting

I know I just wrote a long spiel defending Rena, but her many instances of bad parenting simply cannot be overlooked. This includes SLAPPING her child, getting MAD DRUNK in broad daylight, and outright NEGLECTING her six-year-old child to the extent that she ran away from home. Remind me again why this unfit parent has custody of Sora instead of the one who actually loves her?

Homophobia

The divorce was a long and drawn-out process, inviting nasty and below-the-belt remarks from both parties. Many of the comments made by Rena's lawyer were implicitly and explicitly tainted with homophobia. The judge himself was prejudiced, unable to stay impartial about the nature of Nagisa's relationship. He made a few passing comments that would get him overruled if he was in MY court of law.

Highlights

Shun's coming out

Shun's coming out was a powerful moment, although a funeral may not be the appropriate place to celebrate your sexuality FYI. His character has been so reserved up until this scene, and it's refreshing to hear him speak up about his feelings for the first time. You can tell he has been wrestling with these personal demons for a very long time, making his words extra brave and poignant.

I love everyone's reactions to his coming out speech as well. Everyone in this small town is more open-minded than you might assume of them. One of the women just continued eating her meal as he spoke, because his sexuality was so inconsequential that it doesn't change the way she sees him. It was heartwarming to see this community rally together and toast Shun after he came out. His character really needed this boost of self-confidence after being repressed and unhappy for so long.

Shun's friend

Another memorable moment occurred after Shun got outed in front of the entire town. His friend Mr. Ogata took him on a hunting trip, where he offered some wise and comforting words. "Let them talk. Don't let it get to you. It's nobody's business who you fall in love with. Live how you want to live." I like this advice a lot. It's simple, unpretentious, and reassuring enough without being too sentimental.

Even though Shun didn't say anything (as usual…), he got teary-eyed and you can tell he was moved by his friend's kindness. Too bad Mr. Ogata died immediately in the next scene. 😥

Feedback

Less courtroom drama

The custody case dominated the last half of the movie, taking up too much focus at the expense of other storylines. Considering the way it was resolved, I don't feel like we needed to spend almost 30 minutes on the courtroom drama. Condense that storyline and use that extra time to wrap up some loose ends instead.

For instance, I would've liked to see a scene between Shun and Misato, so that they can clear the air with each other after his coming out. I also wanted more of an aftermath with our two leads. How are Shun and Nagisa coping after they lost custody of Sora? It just feels like there are a few missed opportunities to flesh out the story better, which could be done if they dedicated less time to the courtroom drama.