Fridae

The November 24 opening of Rainbow Boys: The Movie made Thai cinema history: it is the first Thai film to treat gay men as full-fledged warm, complex, loving individuals - as opposed to the cartoon stereotypes typically depicted in Thai cinema.

Fridae.com is among the movie's major sponsors.

Palat as EK, Jackie as TAT and Pimpong as NAT (left to right as pictured in the poster).

A coming-of-age romance involving three college freshmen, this Thai-language film is based on the popular, three-novel series Rainbow Boys, published in the US by Simon & Schuster.

The author's works have been repeatedly praised, and his first novel won a prestigious American Library Association award.

Bangkok-based Cyberfish Media Co, Ltd, Thailand's leading gay multimedia company, published the Thai-language translation of the Rainbow novels and secured the rights to produce this 102-minute film.

It opened in Bangkok last Thursday, November 24, at the House RCA theatre, where it plays with English sub-titles.

"Rainbow Boys is the first of many gay-themed films we plan to produce," said Vitaya Saeng-Aroon, director of Cyberfish, co-producer of the movie, and Bangkok-based columnist for Fridae.

"We aim to counter centuries of negative social messages about gay people. Our books and this film send a bold message to gay Asians: you are normal and you are human, as we all are."

The story involves Ek, an athlete who thinks he may be gay; Tat, who's not out to his family; and Nat, out and proud. The movie follows their struggles with issues from coming out and first love to friendship and sexual identity.

The past few years saw Thailand producing successful gay-related films such as Satree Lek (Iron Ladies) and Beautiful Boxer. But the two movies still leave open many other issues about homosexuality and relationship to discuss.

The romantic relationship between Tat and the confused Ek develops realistically, and the awkward triangle among the three boys builds subtly and convincingly.

Rainbow Boys: The Movie speaks the language of real life for gay teens, that of the ecstasy, heartache, and humour of first love (and sex), that of daily harassment and fear, that of having what it takes to stand up and be proud of who you are.

The movie's modern situations are realistic and ones that speak to contemporary teens and gay people of every age.

The movie includes Thai-language, gay-pride music through a licensing arrangement with Mangpong Plc, one of Thailand's largest media producers and media retailers, and a number of songs from New York-based out gay artist Ari Gold, who has appeared in many leading gay magazines in the US and UK.

"We're delighted to promote this high-quality gay literary franchise, the Rainbow Boys series, in addition to supporting a landmark in Thai cinematic history," said Dr Stuart Koe, CEO of Fridae.

"This movie is at the cutting edge of providing gay Asians with the realistic and uplifting public images they so desperately need: images that say they can be happy, intelligent, respectable, athletic, and moral men of character."

"We're thrilled and grateful for Fridae's support," said Vitaya.

The movie's reception night drew a number of Thai celebrities who were very pleased to see Thailand's first exhibition of modern queer cinema.

"They've got a great script and very good casting," said Marut Sarovas, a noted director and stage play artist. "This movie is for everyone straight or gay. I wish parents of gay children would get a chance to see it."