today is Mother's Day in Thailand and the Bangkok Post in the Life section had a special feature on three films dedicated to "brave mothers" - their #1 choice was Rak Haeng Siam.

 

as much as I love the film and think Sinjai Plengpanich is a great actress and plays a great role, the role she plays is a middle class teacher from a Catholic family with an alcoholic husband, a disappearing daughter and a possibly gay son! is this the new archetypal Thai mum?

 

the scene in the movie where they are decorating the Christmas tree and Tong (Mario) puts the "boy" doll on the tree rather than the "girl" doll and the mother (Sinjai) sighs then smiles bravely is a classic, and in some ways classically "Thai" - but are there no less unambiguous images of Thai motherhood for the Bangkok Post to choose?

 

most falung I talk to seem to think this is a "gay positive" movie, but to me the mother is very anti-gay - she tells the potential boyfriend that one day he will understand that starting a family is more important - and she triumphs in the end, and it gives Thais the ultimate cop-out - the family is Catholic not Buddhist, real Thais would accept this relationship, but would they?

 

in the end who cares, Mario is so cute - see his photo spread this month in Attitude! much better than the one last year in 2 Magazine!

 

bkkguy

Speaking of brave mothers, did you ever see the film "Beautiful Thing." It is great and I love the mother in that movie. IMHO, a real tough cookie!

I've seen Beautiful Thing but don't remember the mother that well, will have to watch it again

 

but give me a good Jewish mother any day - Anne Bancroft as Ma Beckoff in Torch Song Trilogy!

 

bkkguy

but give me a good Jewish mother any day - Anne Bancroft as Ma Beckoff in Torch Song Trilogy!

Although married to a good Jewish boy, Mel Brooks, Anne Bancroft was actually of Italian Catholic descent. A gorgeous lady and wonderful actress, Brooks himself tells a lovely story about their getting engaged. He eventually summoned up the courage to tell his very Jewish mother.

 

"You're getting married?

 

To an Italian?

 

Maybe I should meet her.

 

Tell her to come over for lunch on Sunday. I'll be in the kitchen - with my head in the oven!"

I've seen Beautiful Thing but don't remember the mother that well, will have to watch it again

 

Yes, if you don't remember the mother you need to see it again. The mother was one of the best characters in the movie, in my humble opinion.

 

The very end scene was one of the best in the movie. The mother came out as her son was dancing with his boyfriend and she gave the look of death to anyone who dared look at them cross eyes. She then took the hand of one of the other female characters and started to dance.

 

Many years ago when I 1st came out, I took my mother to see this movie. I actually took her to see the movie, on the exact same weekend that I came out to her. I was 28 years old and had never been so scared in my entire life. This movie took the edge off of a very intense weekend.

 

So I guess I have very special feelings about this movie for many different reasons.