Fridae

A new gay film has opened in Bangkok. Said to be filled with action and laughs, Club M2 not only promises to deliver a responsible, life-affirming message about safer sex but also the "first feature movie worldwide to demonstrate these live-saving practices," according to Cyberfish Media, the Bangkok-based producer of the movie.

The film presents a realistic, loving gay relationship between one man and his lover who lives with HIV�an expression that love and life can exist long after someone is diagnosed as HIV positive.

"Our new movie is a testament of how differences can reconcile and bring fun, love, hope, and respect to everyone - gay and straight audiences alike," said Vitaya Saeng-Aroon, director of Cyberfish Media.

Vitaya, a well-known openly gay columnist in local newspapers, is also a Bangkok-based contributor to Fridae.com's news section.

In 2005, Cyberfish Media produced Thailand's first gay coming-of-age film, Rainbow Boys: The Movie. The film, which was a hit in Bangkok's gay community, was recently screened at NewFest 2007, a gay film festival in New York, and is scheduled to show at Los Angeles's Outfest this month. It is marketed as Right By Me in the US.

"Nearly all Thai movies to date have portrayed gay men as stereotypical caricatures: stupid, clownish men who wear dresses. Very little Asian media is relevant to or represents gay people," said Vitaya.

"Media images are a powerful force in shaping societal attitudes toward groups of people. Thai media has encouraged homophobia with their consistently negative, sneering portrayal of gays as men as effeminate idiots. To Thai movie and TV companies, making fun of gay people provides cheap, free laughs with no consequences to the people they target," he said.

Cyberfish has already received expressions of interest from distributors and festivals in North America and Europe for Club M2.

The trailer, subtitled in English, can be viewed at http://clubm2.bkktv.com.

Genre: Gay pride comedy
Running time: 80 minutes
Language: Thai, with English subtitles
Theatrical Release: 5 July 2007; House Rama RCA theater, Bangkok