For the Love of Siam

Seriously.

You guys all know I'm far from the lush, weepy romantic who cries at the drop of a hat! So you can imagine that having a lump in my throat during a showing of the movie, Love of Siam makes it real significant. Trust me, it's a beautiful, sweet, earnest movie about puppy love. Throw in some teenage angst, personal tragedy and family drama - btw did I mention that the puppy love actually involves two boys, Tong and Mew? - and you have Love of Siam.

And rather than be cold asexual creatures who remain at arm's length, these two actually do share a shy tentative kiss.


All that with an ambiguous ( bittersweet? ) ending - that unfortunately leaves me nearly frothing at the mouth. You know how I hate unresolved issues.

Let me warn you though that spoilers abound below. So I suggest you go catch the movie first and then return to share your thoughts with me.


Schoolboys in love
But tell me... what would you do when that unbearably cute hunk you love tells you this? And remember, you're a teenage boy in the throes of your first love.

Tong : I can't be your boyfriend but that doesn't mean I don't love you.

Seriously, I don't know about the rest of you but doesn't that make you feel like tearing off his handsome head? Especially when it turns out he might be dropping you for a ditzy ice princess with less personality than a glazed donut ( and nicknamed the same unfortunately ). And all I get is a coconut santa's nose? Frankly I'd be insulted.

And furious. Maybe I'm a horrifyingly violent monster but rather than weep piteously in resignation, my reaction would be this. Sorry, I don't do wimpy victim roles.

Tong : I can't be your boyfriend but that doesn't mean I don't love you.
Paul : YOU MUTHAFUCKA! @&%%@&*%! What kinda fucking excuse is that!
Tong : Uhh. Wait, you need to calm down. I have to think of my family - they will never approve of this relationship. We can still be friends though.
Paul : I'll kill that Donut! Where is she? Pound her into cheap dough. She's going into the frying pan again for sure.
Tong : Paul?!
Paul : Just friends?!
Tong : Yes, friends. I still love you.
Paul : Fine. Let's be sex buddies then. Is that alright? You don't have to be my boyfriend.
Tong : What?
Paul : So buddy, you mind if I go down on you right now?

I know. I ran off a tangent after the initial self-righteous indignation but hey, it's Mario Maurer ( who plays Tong ). I'll take what I can get. And I'm not stupid enough to toss a great friendship down the drain just for that - especially when I can have all sorts of added benefits. What can I say? When I was a teenager, I was hopelessly addled with hormones and generally indiscriminate - which made me kind of a slut.


One Night in Bangkok...
Then again, hopefully what Tong actually means is I can't be your boyfriend - at least not right now. It would be heartbreakingly depressing otherwise - and I've gotten quite enough of tragic gay-themed movies. After all with the crazy upheavals in his dysfunctional lil Catholic family, it's quite understandable that Tong would steer clear from stirring up controversy for the next little while.

Hmm... maybe I shouldn't have torn his head off.