Taylor Adam is sent to Straight to God school when his parents find out that he like boys. Well, not just all boys - just his boyfriend - Will. There, Taylor is expected to live as a good Christian and repents his ungodly love for another man. Taylor meets other young guys and girls who are there for several reasons, other than being gay. Taylor thinks that it is going to be unbearable 6 weeks to stay away from his loving boyfriend, but as the days progress, Taylor begin to learn about the problems guys and girls his age face, and the problem posed by the expectation of society.
A few months ago, I read God Box by Alex Sanchez. I thought that was a good book because Alex managed to bring together arguments one can find from the net on the acceptance or lack of acceptance of homosexuality by Christianity and a fictional story. I liked the novel because it was light and easy to follow and did clear a few questions of mine.
Thinking Straight is a good book too. In fact, I am finding myself engrossed to the book because this time, it talks about young guys and girls who are trapped in such institution who believes that it is doing these young people a favor by trying to change them into who they are not. Such institution imposes rules and regulations because the people who are running such institutions are unable to accept the existence of such love.
The book does shed some light on the possibility of how the young people can be mismanaged. And how things can go wrong. Pitifully wrong.
However, I have to say that I did prefer the ending to be purely based on the debate and argument on the perceptions of Christianity as well as those who assume that they are qualified enough to interpret the bible. However, I can still accept that the turnout at the end was one of the few possible ways to end a good gay book like this.
Taam Saai Nam (Down the River) (Thailand) (2004)
0 comments Posted by Jon at Sunday, November 08, 2009
Judging from the cover, it looked like another film that I would love to watch - one, it's about young gay love. Two, it's another offering from the East.
Krit is gay. He wants his best friend, Win, who is straight. Krit is frustrated and his jealousy is shown clearly, as he wants girls to stay away from his best friend. Krit devices any plan to keep Win to himself, including a hike to see a famous, secluded waterfall. The first attempt fails because Win brings along two girls who do not want to hike too far into the forest. The second time fails too, because it is too late in the night.
I have lost count of the number of gay films from Thailand and Philippines, but it does look like these two countries are not shy from producing more gay themed films. Thailand has several great films under its belt - The Love of Siam, Iron Ladies, Bangkok Love, Right By Me etc. So, there was a high expectation from me on this young gay film, and boy, was I disappointed. This film banks on one theme - let's hate the gays. Krit is shown as the selfish gay who refuses to give up the belief that a straight guy wants nothing more than just a friendship. His persistent attempt to tempt Win makes gays look like they are devils, who are already assumed (wrongly) of trying to convert straights into gays. I have to admire the actor who is acting as Krit, because his eyes really showed his displeasure of having girls around the straight Win.
From the beginning, gays, through Krit, are painted as the bad guys. And even after Krit managed to seduce Win for one night stand, Krit went bonkers. Krit went to a carcass of a dead animal and slept beside it, knowing that the beast that killed the animal could return anytime. Despite Win's persuasion, Krit just lied there in the dark.
Damn stupid film.
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