Love in a hot climate

Published on December 6, 2007

 In the theatres, audiences either cheer or voice their disapproval when the two teen male characters share a passionate kiss in the middle of the 150-minute long movie. Other intimate scenes where the two characters exchange glances and smiles draw similar, if less extreme, reactions.

Webboards have been flooded with both anger and support since the launch of the movie last month. Many web posters - mostly male - accuse the studio, Sahamongkol Films Company, the promoters and the director of giving moviegoers "a false impression" in an attempt to lure audiences to "a gay movie".

"We have two teen characters and they like each other. But the movie is about love and family and the struggle of many characters as they go through difficult times," says director Chookiat Sakweerakul, the 26-year-old behind a series of successful shorts and last year's hit feature "13 Beloved".

Tong (Mario Maurer) and Mew (Witwisit "Pchy" Hiranyawongkul) were close friends when they were young but haven't seen each other for six years. They meet again as teenagers and as they revisit their friendship, it develops into something more intimate.

But the boys are not the sole focus of the story. "Love of Siam" explores other important questions too, among them how members of a troubled family unite, loneliness in a big city, a search for the true meaning of love, and even alcoholism.

Chookiat accepts that the gay relationship between the teens was omitted in the promotional material because he wanted the movie to reach a wider audience.

"The movie is not all about gay characters, we are not focusing on gay issues, we are not saying, 'let's come out of the closet, so obviously, we don't want the movie to have a 'gay' label," he says.

While foreigners regard Thailand as very gay-tolerant society, the local gay community knows only too well that under the surface, it's a constant struggle to live openly without facing contempt.

"I went incognito to a movie theatre and observed the audience. I didn't expect such a strong reaction. Maybe I was just too optimistic that homophobia in Thai society had subsided," says Chookiat.

"Love of Siam" is probably the first mainstream Thai movie bold enough to show male teen actors kissing.

"We were chatting about computer games one moment and kissing the next," says 18-year-old Witwisit of his character Mew, a talented musician with an upcoming band.

Mew's boyhood feelings for Tong, played by rising teen pop star Mario, come rushing back when they meet again at Siam Square, where the movie is set.

Pchy, who's a musician and songwriter in real life, says he accepted the challenging role because of his confidence in the director, who was his senior at Montfort College in Chiang Mai. Now a freshman at Thammasat University's mass communications faculty, he's also interested in following in Chookiat's footsteps.

"I don't see myself as a movie star and I don't care about fame. But I'd like to work behind the scenes," he says.

A familiar face in teen commercials and music videos, the Thai-German Mario was initially worried about kissing another actor, but his father calmed him down.

"I was nervous. I've never kissed a man and kissing is not something you do every day," says the 19-year-old, who started his career as a model.

"My father said it was just a job and not to think about it too much."

Mario's mother was more concerned, questioning the script and asking for the kiss to be cut. Chookiat explained that it is essential to the movie, serving as the turning point and building a base for the emotional conflicts of other characters.

Acclaimed as the best Thai movie of the year, "Rak Hang Siam", which cost about Bt17 million to make, has grossed Bt30 million in the three weeks since its release. The movie's soundtrack album has sold out in shops.

Gay and female viewers are the biggest fans, with many of them watching it at least twice.

"Pchy and Mario are driving me crazy. They are so real. I don't know if they are gay, but I love them. This is the No-1 movie on my mind," says one gay member of a fan club for the film.

Witwisit and Mario are already being stalked by fan club groupies. Some 2,500 people have been added to Witwisit's Hi5 web space, and many thousands more are waiting.

"My [computer] mouse is broken. Someone just gave me the software to help me add more people on Hi5. I never expected this kind of reaction. But while I'm thrilled, please don't put more pressure on me, as I really need time to study and do other things," he says.

Not just a lollipop teen flick, "Love of Siam" also brings family issues to the forefront and has been praised by adult audiences for being a quality drama.

"We just want to tell an honest story. Because it's a real story, people are fond of our film. Both heterosexual and homosexual audiences can enjoy the movie. After all, love is universal," says Chookiat.

 Vitaya Saeng-Aroon

 Special to The Nation

Vitaya Saeng-Aroon is a columnist and director of gay media company, Cyberfish Media. He can be reached at vitadam2002@yahoo.com.