Bruges: Applause

(I was unable to locate the "Voyage" short story, so I will only be reviewing "Bruges" and "A San Francisco Story.) I can confidently say that the two short stories contained within “Applause” are not only the most heartbreaking and moving manga I have reviewed on this account so far, but that they are now among my favorite comics and media as a whole. Period. End statement. “Bruges” deals directly with the history and associated anguish of same gender love captured in early Yuri Tragedies, as well as the anguish many real same gender attracted people have experienced, whereas “A San Francisco Story” acts asa more confrontational look at Class S and girls culture homosocial relationships and how it impacts an adult who grew up with that. In both cases “Bruges” and “A San Francisco Story” act as both a loving homage to the micro genres they are made in response to while also upheaving and healing the baggage associated with those tropes in a grounded yet bold and brave way. The relationships and emotions in both stories are complicated and multi-faceted, yet fully contained in the context of these Yuri shorts. I was and still am quite shocked at how full, rounded, complete, and moving both “Bruges” and “A San Francisco Story” come across for essentially both being one shots, and despite the fact that I am craving more by the mangaka Kyouko Ariyoshi, I feel completely comfortable leaving both stories where they concluded. “Applause” exists beyond the confines of the ‘wholesome’ vs. ‘unsafe’ yuri debate and rather than ignoring the dangers and trauma of same gender attracted women it actively tackles these topics and recreates pure beauty. If you have love in your heart read “Applause”. If you’d like to have love in your heart read “Applause”. If you have given up on love read “Applause” anyways, maybe it will give you hope.