Wednesday 12 December 2007

Thais still anti-gay: Mat-Deaw (part 3, final, Love of Siam)

Alone in a crowded place
Mat-Deaw was delighted to read reaction on webboards from viewers who said it had opened their eyes to the fact that young people from the same sex do fall in love; that alcoholism in families does happen; that parents do fight, separate, come back together. He read the reaction on some message boards, and wept.

"I had no idea my movie could have such a big impact on people, could offer people hope, or help them heal.'

He says he felt more "in" with the love between Tong's parents than between youngsters Tong and Music. A love which can survive 20-30 years is a moving thing, he says, especially when couples have to encounter obstacles such as financial and health problems.

"Kids get together and then a second later they break up. They don't understand, if their parents are fighting, why they don't just separate.

"But when they can get older, they can see why people stay together. After living with each other so long, how could they be apart? Once they are old, they have to look after each other. It is such a moving thing, it's beyond words."

Asked why he did not set the movie at the Catholic school he attended in his hometown of Chiang Mai, Mat-Deaw says he chose Bangkok, in particular Siam Square, because it was so busy. "People feel even more alone in a crowded place."

He says no sequel is planned. Some had suggested that the sequel could look at pairing between Music and guitar player "X". But Mat-Deaw says that as far as he is concerned, the story is over.

1 comment:

  1. 1 comment:

    Clement22 August 2008 at 08:12
    Thank you so much for your extensive coverage of the Love of Siam. I really enjoyed reading about your wide range of coverage regarding many aspects of the movie. I appreciate the most is this 3-part interview with the director.

    Keep up the great work!

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Comments are welcome, in English or Thai (I can't read anything else). Anonymous posting is discouraged, unless you'd like to give yourself a name at the bottom of your post, so we can tell who you are.