| The Love of Siam | |
|---|---|
Thai theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Chookiat Sakveerakul |
| Produced by | Prachya Pinkaew Sukanya Vongsthapat |
| Written by | Chookiat Sakveerakul |
| Starring | Witwisit Hiranyawongkul Mario Maurer Chermarn Boonyasak Sinjai Plengpanich Songsit Rungnopakunsri |
| Cinematography | Chitti Urnorakankij |
| Distributed by | Sahamongkol Film International |
| Release date(s) | Thailand: November 22, 2007 Republic of China: September 19, 2008 Japan: May 20, 2009 Singapore: July 16, 2009 |
| Running time | 150 minutes 178 minutes (Director's Cut) |
| Country | Thailand |
| Language | Thai |
| Budget | 17 million baht[1] |
| Gross revenue | 42 million baht[2 |
(Thai: รักแห่งสยาม, RTGS: Rak Haeng Sayam, pronounced [rák hɛ̀ŋ sà.jǎːm]) is a Thai romantic-drama film, written and directed by Chookiat Sakveerakul. A multi-layered family drama, a groundbreaking element of the story is a gay romance between two teenage boys.
The film was released in Thailand on 22 November 2007. The fact that the gay storyline was not apparent from the film's promotional material initially caused controversy, but the film was received with critical acclaim and proved financially successful. It dominated Thailand's 2007 film awards season, winning the Best Picture category in all major events.
Cast
- Witwisit Hiranyawongkul as Mew
- Mario Maurer as Tong
- Kanya Rattanapetch as Ying
- Aticha Pongsilpipat as Donut
- Chermarn Boonyasak as Tang/June
- Sinjai Plengpanich as Sunee, Tong's mother
- Songsit Rungnopakunsri as Korn, Tong's father
Marketing controversy, audience response
Marketed as a typical teen romance between boys and girls, the gay aspect of the love story was controversial.
Thai-language web boards were posted with messages of support, as well as accusations by moviegoers that they were misled into watching "a gay movie."[1]
Director Chookiat Sakveerakul admitted the film was marketed on the film posters and in the film's previews as a straight romance because he wanted it to reach a wider audience.[1]
"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 said in an interview.[1]
But the director confirmed the mixed reaction of audiences. "I went incognito to a movie theater 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."[1]
Box-office performance
The Love of Siam was released in Thai cinemas on November 22, 2007, opening on 146 screens. It was the No. 1 film at the Thai box office that weekend, topping the previous No. 1 film, Beowulf.[3] It slipped to No. 2 the following weekend, unseated by the comedy film, Ponglang Amazing Theater.[4] In the third week of release, it had dropped to No. 5, with to-date box office takings of US$1,198,637.[5] It has grossed a total of US$1,305,125 to date.
The film was officially released in Taiwan on September 19, 2008 and Singapore on July 16, 2009. It reached No. 12 at the Taiwan box office in opening week.[6]
Critical response
The Love of Siam was received with critical acclaim upon its release.
Bangkok Post film critic Kong Rithdee called the film "groundbreaking", in terms of being the first Thai film "to discuss teenagers' sexuality with frankness". He praised the mature, realistic family drama aspects of the film, as well as the solid performances, particularly by Sinjai Plengpanich as the mother Sunee.[7]
Another Bangkok Post commentator, Nattakorn Devakula, said the film contained important lessons for Thai society. "The point that the film attempts to teach viewers – and a largely conservative Thai society – is that love is an evolved form of emotional attachment that transcends sexual attraction of the physical form."[8]
A reviewer for The Nation called the film "brilliantly conceived".[9]
A few critics found fault with the film, among them Gregoire Glachant of BK magazine, who commented that "The Love of Siam isn't a very well shot movie. Chookiat's camera only records his dull play with equally dull angles and light as it wanders from homes to schools, to recording studio, and to Siam Square without sense of purpose or directions."[10]
The movie also reached a rating of 8.3 (out of 10) on the Internet Movie Database.[11
Plot
Mew, a stubborn kid, is a neighbour of Tong. Tong is an energetic boy who lives with his parents and sister. After accidentally spitting gum into Mew's hair, Tong wanted to befriend Mew but was unsuccessful. At school, Mew was cornered by several other students and was harassed until Tong stepped in to defend him. Tong was injured and apologized to Mew for the chewing gum incident. Mew was grateful for Tong stepping in and responded that they were even. The two became good friends from that point on.
Mew plays on his grandpa's piano and is joined by his grandma, who begins to play a song. Mew asks his grandma why she liked that song and his grandma responded by telling Mew that it was played for her by his grandpa. It was a way for him to express his love to her and explains that one day, Mew will understand the meaning of the song.
Tong's family goes to Chiangmai and returns without Tong's sister, Tang, since she wanted to stay with her friends a couple days more. Tong bought Mew a present and decided to give it to Mew piece by piece in a game of Treasure Hunt. One by one, Mew found all of the pieces except for the last one which was hidden in a tree. The tree was cut down before Mew was able to retrieve it leaving the present Tong bought for Mew incomplete. Tong was disappointed at their misfortune, but Mew remained grateful for Tong's efforts. Tang called her parents and told them that she would extend her stay at Chiangmai until the 24th of December. Tong looks at his calendar and realizes that Tang will not be able to attend the Christmas play he would participate in.
After the Christmas play, Tong receives a phone call from his parents telling him to stay with Mew and his grandma. After spending the night at Mew's house, Tong awakens to the sight of his parents along with Mew and his grandma. Tong is told that his parents are going to Chiangmai for a couple days to look for Tang. Tong lives in depression until his parents come back, only to find out that Tang may be lost. Tong is devastated and cries in front of Mew, who is trying to comfort his friend.
Months have passed and Tong's family decides to move. On the day of the move, Tong finds Mew sitting on a ledge overlooking a pier. Tong says his final words and departs in a car. Tong looks back only to find Mew walking towards the car before coming to a stop and crying for losing his best friend.
Six years pass. The boys are reunited during their senior year of high school at Siam Square. The musically talented Mew is the leader of aboy band called August. Tong has a pretty girlfriend, Donut. The meeting stirs up old feelings that Mew has harbored since boyhood, his love for Tong.
Mew's band, meanwhile, has a new manager, June. She looks just like Tong's long-lost sister, Tang. After meeting June, Tong and his mother, Sunee, devise to a plan to pay June to pretend she is Tang, in hopes that it will pull Tong's father out of his alcoholic depression. "Tang" borrows a story from the Thai film Ruk Jung, saying she has amnesia, which is why she has forgotten how to say her family's Catholic grace at the dinner table.
Mew is also the object of an unrequited crush of a neighbor girl, Ying. Unfortunately, Mew has strong feelings for Tong, which have inspired him to write new songs. The manager, as well as the entire band, were all impressed with Mew's composition.
The boys share a prolonged kiss in Tong's backyard one night after a party in honor of the return of "Tang". Prior to that Tong also spends the night with Mew, which causes his mother to worry.
At Christmas time, as Tong and his mother are decorating a Christmas tree, they have a heart-to-heart talk about making choices, and Tong asks his mother to let him make his own choices.
Tong then goes to Siam Square for a date with Donut. Mew's band is playing nearby, so Tong abandons Donut and tells her that he cannot be with her. He then rushes to see Mew play and is guided there by Ying, who has accepted the fact that Mew loves Tong. After the performance, Tong gives Mew a gift, the missing nose from the wooden doll that Tong gave him when they were children. However, Tong tells Mew he can't be his boyfriend but that doesn't mean he doesn't love Mew.
The movie ended with Mew putting the missing nose back to the wooden puppet, saying "thank you" and crying quietly.
Awards
The Love of Siam dominated Thailand's 2007 film awards season, winning the Best Picture category in all major national film award events, including the Thailand National Film Association Awards, Starpics Magazine's Starpics Awards, the Bangkok Critics AssemblyAwards, Star Entertainment Awards, and Kom Chad Luek Newspaper's Kom Chad Luek Awards.[12] Awards won by the film include the following:
Starpics Awards
Kom Chad Luek Awards
Thailand National Film Association Awards
| Bangkok Critics Assembly Awards
Star Entertainment Awards
Osaka Asian Film Festival 2009
|
The film was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor (Mario Maurer) and Best Composer (Kitti Kuremanee) categories in the Asian Film Awards at the Hong Kong International Film Festival, but did not win.[14]
In October 2008, Mario Maurer won the Best Actor award in Southeast Asian film category at the 10th Cinemanila International Film Festival.[15]
The Love of Siam is Thailand's submission to the 81st Academy Awards.[16
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