Thailand chooses gay-themed drama as Oscar submission

[webfact]

Thailand chooses gay-themed drama as Oscar submission

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand's motion picture association has selected a gay-themed, coming-of-age drama, "How to Win at Checkers (Every Time)," as an entry for the foreign-language category at the Academy Awards.

The movie is about an 11-year-old boy named Ek being raised by his gay, older brother in a poor Bangkok suburb. Ek tries to help his brother dodge the country's military draft lottery in the film, which touches on corruption, discrimination and social status in Thai society — and was released while a military government is running the country.

The film "has successfully been able to raise issues that people in Thailand don't openly talk about," said Weerasak Kowsurat, secretary-general of the National Federation of Thai Motion Picture and Content Associations.

An 8-person committee from the federation chose the film from among 59 contenders on Tuesday and submitted it Thursday as its selection for the Oscars foreign-language category, Weerasak said.

"The movie talks about morality and goodness in people as seen through the eyes of the younger brother," said Weerasak, adding that the older brother is gay but the film avoids gay stereotypes of promiscuity that are common in Thai films. "It shows the older brother as someone who is responsible, and trying to take care of his younger sibling. It's not how gay men are generally presented in Thai movies."

The Thai-language film was screened at the Berlin Film Festival this year and was released in July in Thailand. It was directed by Korean-American Josh Kim.

A Thai film has never been shortlisted for an Oscar nomination.

The Academy will announce the nominees for foreign-language films and other categories in mid-January before the Oscars are handed out Feb. 28, 2016.

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-09-24

[chainarong]

Would be far better than a boring war mongering military - themed drama , like the thoughts of Prayth- O

[Jingthing]

Thailand produces a lot of (non porn) films with gay content but most of them seemed aimed largely at the teenaged girls audience who for some reason, like Japanese teen girls, love to watch romantic boy to boy love stories. They also seem to be playing in theaters for like two weeks max, so if you blink, you miss it.

Go figure!

Edited September 24, 2015 by Jingthing

[manhood]

Great to see that a Thai movie with gay content in a "normal" gay life without prostitution and promiscuity is on the way to a Oscar nomination and it's also a sign of coming up with a new tolerance, which can also show an effect which can promote the acceptance of homosexual people in Thailand. I hope that this film will be shown in many theaters in Thailand!

[ratcatcher]

One can only hope that it has been professionally sub-titled for foreign audiences?

[FangFerang]

After the whole storm in a teacup about LGBT (QRST?) marriages and the Emmys reflecting Hollyweird's own version of political incorrectness, I must say this is a smart move. The climate is right. But with the junta and suspended elections, they will never make the cut.

If they had done a movie about Asian gays hanging out with trannies and bisexuals in a hidden speak-easy club, hiding under pain of death intrigue and trying to be happy under oppressive governments (sharing their hopes and fears for all mankind in secret, of course), they would probably have gotten at least in the top three.

[Searat7]

After the whole storm in a teacup about LGBT (QRST?) marriages and the Emmys reflecting Hollyweird's own version of political incorrectness, I must say this is a smart move. The climate is right. But with the junta and suspended elections, they will never make the cut.

If they had done a movie about Asian gays hanging out with trannies and bisexuals in a hidden speak-easy club, hiding under pain of death intrigue and trying to be happy under oppressive governments (sharing their hopes and fears for all mankind in secret, of course), they would probably have gotten at least in the top three.

Unless you see Thai movie in theater here there is small chance to see movie with sub-titles unless it is sold later in USA. For some reason Thai movies sold here as DVDs rarely have sub-titles. I would love to buy the King Naresuan movies and am thankful I was able to see all six in theaters.

[jaywalker]

Thailand produces a lot of (non porn) films with gay content but most of them seemed aimed largely at the teenaged girls audience who for some reason, like Japanese teen girls, love to watch romantic boy to boy love stories. They also seem to be playing in theaters for like two weeks max, so if you blink, you miss it.

Go figure!

Gotta say that if they came out with a teenage Thai lesbian flick........I'd watch it.

[fred Kubasa]

Thai agencies complain, almost daily, about " Damaged image" and this type

of film will only multiply that damage !

[Jingthing]

This film had a limited Thailand release a long time ago. It is a very well regarded art type film. Sadly I missed it. I seriously doubt it will ever have a new release in Thailand.

[Jingthing]

Thai agencies complain, almost daily, about " Damaged image" and this type

of film will only multiply that damage !

Well if the film is as good as I've heard I think the opposite is true. That it will be good for Thailand's rep.

[CMBob]

Thai agencies complain, almost daily, about " Damaged image" and this type

of film will only multiply that damage !

And what "type" is that? A bad movie, a good movie, a movie with an actor portraying a homosexual, a movie with an actor portraying a heterosexual, or what?

[KVJ]

Look forward to watching this movie.

I have yet to see a good quality film in Thailand, and it's not through lack of trying.

Any recommendations highly appreciated.

[Jingthing]

Look forward to watching this movie.

I have yet to see a good quality film in Thailand, and it's not through lack of trying.

Any recommendations highly appreciated.

Good luck finding a screening. The chances of a re-release in Thailand are quite remote.

Actually I just looked it up and I don't see a record that it WAS ever even released in Thailand.

Or anywhere else in a commercial theater.

It's only been a film festival movie. That's the way it is for most art films.

Even stranger, IMDB lists the film as having a USA origin, not a Thailand one ...

The story is based on an adaption of a Thai-American writer.

Edited September 25, 2015 by Jingthing

[Srikcir]

This movie might just cause homophobic Putin to break his security agreement with Thailand.

[Oziex1]

This movie might just cause homophobic Putin to break his security agreement with Thailand.

A little known fact is that it is Putin's favorite film at the moment, he would deny of course.

[KVJ]

Look forward to watching this movie.

I have yet to see a good quality film in Thailand, and it's not through lack of trying.

Any recommendations highly appreciated.

Good luck finding a screening. The chances of a re-release in Thailand are quite remote.

Actually I just looked it up and I don't see a record that it WAS ever even released in Thailand.

Or anywhere else in a commercial theater.

It's only been a film festival movie. That's the way it is for most art films.

Even stranger, IMDB lists the film as having a USA origin, not a Thailand one ...

The story is based on an adaption of a Thai-American writer.

You can find most art films around the net if you look in the right places. This one, however, is going to be tricky.

Besides that, it has zero reviews on rottentomatoes, which makes me wonder if it is a decent movie at all.

The quest for a good Thai movie still remains elusive.

[Dljohnt]

The movie has played in Chiang Mai for 3 weeks. There wasn't much publicity outside the Facebook pages. It is indeed an outside the box gay movie but much more it tells the story of the poor and rich sides of the people in Thailand and the drafting for the army. It's in ways funny and touching. And yes it was professional sub titled.