Thailand
is one of the most tolerant Southeast Asian nations of same-sex relationships.
They also have a long tradition of transgender acceptance, although redlight
district stereotypes remain an issue. In 2005, the government lifted the ban on
LGBT soldiers in the military. That sounds progressive, but Ek would have
preferred the old, unenlightened system. As the primary support of his bratty
younger brother, he cannot afford the honor of conscription. Nor can he bribe
his way out, like his well healed boyfriend. Corruption rather than discrimination
is the driving issue of Texas-born Josh Kim’s How to Win at Checkers (Every Time), Thailand’s official foreign
language Oscar submission, which screens during the 2015 Hawaii International Film Festival (trailer here).
The
checkers-playing Ek and Oat were orphaned by their father’s untimely death, but
they have each other. They also have a place to stay with their Aunt and her mischievous
daughter Kwan, but she depends on Ek to cover the boys’ expenses. He is in a
committed long-term relationship with his former classmate Jai, but if you
think that is going to last, you haven’t seen very many social issue dramas. We
can tell from the confusing framing device, something tragic will befall Ek,
but an embittered Oat will survive and thrive.
The
impending draft lottery looks like the destabilizing event. The stealthy Oat
knows Jai’s parents have bought his way out of service, which means there will
be one less black card in the hat for Ek to pick. If he pulls out red, it means
two years fighting insurgents. Frankly, it is a bizarre ritual they presumably stage
because of its ostensive transparency, but when the fix is in, everyone can
tell.
It
is interesting to see a film with LGBT relationships front-and-center, in which
sexuality is not an issue. Even the crooked old officers running the rigged
lottery seem perfectly accepting of Ek and Jai’s transgender friend Kitty
(perhaps, unfortunately so). Things might not be perfect, but Thai society
certainly appears healthier than fundamentalist Iran, which the Obama
administration is damned and determined to make a nuclear power, or notoriously
homophobic Cuba, which it can’t wait to normalize relations with. Yet, the
administration has put the deep freeze on U.S.-Thai relations following the
military coup and partial power-sharing arrangement.
Regardless,
the young cast is remarkably accomplished and utterly natural on screen. Thira
Chutikul does a heck of a slow burn as Ek, while Natarat Lakha shows real star
power as the protective Kitty. However, young Ingkarat Damrongsakkul really carries
the dramatic load as Oat. It is his coming-of-age story, and he makes every
wince-inducing moment of it all too believable.
Aside
from the off-key wrap-arounds (the problem perhaps being all grown-up and jaded
Oat looks like he is maybe thirteen years old), Kim’s execution is remarkably
sure-footed. He clearly prefers small telling moments to big melodramatic
explosions, for which we’re grateful. Kim also shrewdly employs and contrasts rural
and urban settings for atmospheric effect. It is a nice film that should have
more mainstream appeal than a thumbnail sketch would suggest. Recommended for
those who appreciate the coming-of-age genre, How to Win at Checker (Every Time) screens this Friday (11/13),
next Friday (11/20), and the following Saturday (11/21) at this year’s HIFF.
