The Love of Siam (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,
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 a boy 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.
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
Running time: 150 minutes [178 minutes (Director's Cut)]
Country: Thailand
Language: Thai
Subtitle: English
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Through the interconnected lives of two boys who are on the verge of self-awareness amidst their own individual conflicts and the people surrounding them, notes that love survives notwithstanding the dilemmas that pervade the world. As one of the character form the movie translates from a Chinese song, "as long as there is love, there is hope." Corny as it sounds, The Love of Siam thrives on that noble aspiration, without knowing that it does so.