The Love of Siam
Watched The Love of Siam at the Dekada Cinemanila yesterday with amehanashi, dramashit, Ken, and Chuck. I wasn't supposed to watch it, but it's a good thing that amehanashi and the guys saw me when they did.
The movie was ok. It could have used a bit of editing, and I felt that some subplots of the story should have been discarded altogether. Quite frankly, Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros is a better movie. Nevertheless, I had fun, and by the sound of her screaming, so did amehanashi.
But I think the bigger story is how the actors fared after. Both the two male leads, Witwisit Hiranyawongkul and Mario Maurer are doing exceedingly well, Mario Maurer especially. Maurer has already made three more movies after "The Love of Siam" and is enjoying a boatload of product endorsements. If you don't believe me, check out the picspam below.
I think it speaks a lot about the Thai audience that they've made someone who played a lead in a gay movie into a veritable superstar. Unlike us, the Thais are able to distinguish their actors from the roles that they play. Here in the Philippines, a love team changes partners and we're all up in arms, as if the very fate of the world depended on it. And if a certain actor or actress becomes popular because of a specific stereotype, God forbid they think of trying something new.
Take the case of Nathan Lopez, who played Maximo Oliveros. What role did they give him next? Another variant of Maximo in "Sana Maulit Muli". This is probably going to be the fate of every other newcomer who is trying out his luck in the deluge of gay indie films that never seem to run out now. This is also the reason why you will never see Sam Milby and Piolo Pascual portraying gay lovers.
One may argue that there are already quite a number of mainstream actors who've done gay roles and have still found gainful employment in other non-gay roles. Sid Lucero, for one. But he isn't exactly drowning in endorsements right now, and "Selda" wasn't exactly a box-office king, wasn't it? The Love of Siam actually beat out Beowulf at the Thai box office. The day that that Sam Milby-Piolo Pascual team-up gets made and makes a bajillion pesos and the Philippine audience still allows Sam and Piolo to play leading man roles is the day that I will cherish forever.
I wish we as an audience start looking past what we see on the screen and use our brains for a bit. Just that and I'll be happy.
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For bearing with that rant, here is your promised Mario Maurer picspam! So not good for dial-up users.
