That's what I feel annoyed about. Because a lot of media studies put friedship between two males under the hidden context of homosexuality. In a lot of old French movies like those by Jean-Pierre Melville's. The male characters always forge some steady friendship that they can sacrifice they own life for the other. But I think those critics are looking at everything wrong.

I had once a male friend from England said he met his male soul mate in Italy, I was confused since he is straight, but later I understand what he said is he met one person that just understand what he thinks and likes in music/arts and theoretical physics

And old Chinese term for this case is "zhi ji" means "someone just understands me".