tlavideo.com

Tongmew wrote on 04/08/2012:

I finally saw the English Subtitle Version of this movie, and like the most of the veiwers who saw this movie and did not like the ending, I feel the same way. That said, the ending felt right though because both Mew and Tong are in different places in their lives.

As an gay Asian man, I know the obligation I have to my family and especially to my parents. I feel obligated to do right by them and make them happy as much as I can, even if I have to sacrifice your own happiness at times. Still, I have also responsibility to my own well-being and happiness too. And this movie shows that conflicts real well through the eyes of Tong and Mew.

First of Mew, unlike Tong, he did not grow up with a parents in the real sense. He was practically raised by his grandmother and then by his aunt when his grandmother passed away. Plus, Mew was not a Catholic from what I saw in the movie, and coupled with him being an artist, it is no wonder that he is able to be truer to himself than Tong every could. Mew is not bogged down by familial obligations, or for that matter high expectations by parents to be the perfect son, to have a career, to be married and have children, and to carry on the family name, etc., or even be restricted by the dogma of Christianity, where being gay is wrong. Having the relationship that Mew had with his grandmother, who I believed taught him to play the piano and showed him the importance of music as a way to express one's emotions and feelings, and plus practically growing up by himself, it is no wonder Mew is able to comes to grip with his sexuality more honesty and be accepting of it, which makes him more admirable than most of the characters in the movie. Case in point, when Mew discovers Ying's obsession with him and Ying asked him if she should still have hope, Mew shot her down and basically tells her "no" that they could only be friends, which gave Ying the strength to finally move on, or Mew scarificing his love for Tong in order to make Tong's mom happy out of respect for her.

Now for Tong...Tong is more of a complex character. To be honest, I think he is a character who is truly lost, a person governed by the people arround him and his surrounding environment. Because of Teng's disappearance, how it changed his family forever, he felt the responsibility to be perfect, to be everything that every one expected of him to be while compromising his own heart's desire for their sake. Noticed his bedroom, his sanctuary away from the world, his room was practically a blank slate, devoit of colors and posters like Ying's bedroom or knick-knacks like Mew's room with the exceptions of a poster of a cross above his bed and another cross next to his night side table. Even his bed linens was white like the walls of his room. This symbolizes Tong's lack of identity outside of his family and friends expectations of him and his religious beliefs.

Perhaps, if there is a sequel to this movie, which I think is possible, I can see it a few years later after this one when they are in college perhaps, where Mew's singing career is going great and is dating some guy who is OUT and someone who bears a resemblance to Tong, who is also new member to his band -August Band (remember Tong even said in this movie about Julie looking like his sister, Tang, there is a lot of look alike out there), while Tong is dating Ying (the two reunite and becomes lovers because of their connection to Mew and their undying love for him) seems apparently happy but Tong still pines for Mew secretely. Meanwhile, Tong's mom, who's marriage is in the mend since Kong, her husband and Tong's dad, is sober at last and healthy again, is not convinced that her son is truly happy and tries to convice her son that she was wrong to change him and to be true to himself and asks him to give his relationship with Mew another chance since he was happiest the most when he was with Mew. Tong finally gives in to his heart's true desire but discovers that it maybe already be too late because Mew is with someone else. Or is it?

Glenn wrote on 06/06/2010:

Let me start by saying this is my favorite movie ever. The only problem is that the studio and Strand have chosen only to release the theatrical version and not the Directors Cut. That version adds about 15 or 20 more minutes but those minutes are somewhat crucial to explaining a number of things that happen later in the film. Most of the deleted scenes are near the beginning but one PIVOTAL scene near the end was cut out of the theatrical release for some inexplicable reason. You can find the director's cut with English subs online and it is well worth seeing.

As for the ending....it makes me cry every single time. And it really doesn't make a lot of sense. However in Thai culture a boy will do anything for his mother. And it seems that is the choice Tong decided to make. I am sure the directors/writer has been asked many times about the ending.

For me part of what makes the film so great is the music and how Mew ends up using it to tell his true feelings. And the sweet reactions of his friends to the relationship is nice as well.

I will agree that the father/family story line does bog things down, especially the hospital scenes late in the film.

All in all though I love this movie. I saw it twice when it was released in Thailand. And then was lucky enough to find the Director's Cut mentioned above.

anonymous wrote on 05/06/2010:

SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!! The movie on a whole is good. I watched this a year or so ago. As a somewhat young 20 something I myself found a lot I could relate with in the lead characters. Despite knowing I'm gay since my sr year of highschool, my parents still live in denial. Which does not make things easy for me. Living the whole double life thing is getting rather old. So I can relate in a lot of ways to these characters. Especially when it comes to the family dynamics. For me that is why I don't fully confront the matter, and it's even harder to do so in a situation like mine where they know and yet live in denial, as that just shows their un readiness to accept and deal with it. I could see a lot of myself in Tong due to the family dynamics, but then I do have aspects of Mew as well. Being one who is still currently in love with someone who can't be true to themselves or at least to their feelings.

It is along move, which I actually liked! I hate the 90 minute ones where they spend so much time just kinda in "blah" or back and forth drama and you finally get a little something towards the end AND THEN IT'S OVER! I also hate the typical cliche dramatic sad ending. Despite that, I don't think i minded the ending AS MUCH in this movie due to the length. yes it has that sad cliche ending w Tong saying "I love you, but I can't be with you" or w.e the exact quote is (it's to that affect) there was enough character development, in multiple characters, that it at least yields a little be if an explanation as to why Tong makes that decision.

Now some might say I'm contradiciting myself because this movie is all about the back and forth drama between the two boys, but trust me when I say that it's different, at least for me anyway. At least there is no closet jock boy who gets outed and like almost threatens to beat the other guy up or does something stupid in some other way. Yes, there is some of this closeted-ness with Tong, but it's different in my mind.

I must say that though I am more ok w the ending than some, I STILL HATE IT! Even after his mom basically gives Tong permission to be with Mew if he wants to (when she gives him the boy figure chrismas tree ornament when they are decorating it) HE DOESN'T STAY WITH MEW!!!!! How messed (can't use the word i really wanted to here) up is that? I'd kill to have my mother say or do something like that for me! Especially if I had someone who I was in love with and who I knew was in love with me! Now the only reason why I say i'm ok with it is because he DOES at least say he loves Mew in the end, and since they do remain friends I guess we can hope for something better for them later and in time. Aside from that though, it's just another cliche "I love you but i can't be with you" ending. Which ironically enough, is very close to what my ex said to me when called it off "like or not like it's my life and it's not what i want for my life".....gotta love the closeted bi army boy complex.

I like this movie. It deals with alot of issues. A lot of which I can personally relate (sorry if i got to personal in my review)., but that is why I like it. And I bet there are alot of guys out there both young and old who can relate to it the same way that I can/do. Our situations maybe a little different than Tongs and Mews are/were, but I'm sure a lot of us have been through some similar situations. Which is why i defend this film and think it's a good one. A happy ending it is not, but it's not a sad one either. For me it was frusterating, because I couldn't get over how even after his mom basically gave Mew permission to be w whom ever he chose, he still chose not to be with Mew, at least as his boyfriend. For me this hits very close to home so perhaps that's why i have the frustration. I still would recommend this movie to anyone though. Just be warned of the ending!

HarryJohnson wrote on 12/12/2009:

I seriously can't believe I spent 3 hours watching this film only to see the LAMEST ending ever. Despite what others wrote about the "surprise ending" is a result of Asian culture, I say that's a bunch of BS. The lame ending is about what it's always about......some self-loathing gay writer who just isn't brave enough to be true to himself. The movie's message is supposed to be about life bringing us different loves......if only the movie had followed its own message. What a waste and a disappointment.

CJS wrote on 09/17/2009:

This has been a film fest favorite for years, and it's finally coming to DVD. Sure, the movie has its flaws (it's too long; the father's depression often brings the film's momentum to a stop; some of the acting by the adults is suspect; etc.), but overall it's one of my favorite movies of all time. The actors are completely endearing, and despite it's occasional over-the-campiness, by the end people even the most heartless cynics will be rooting for Mew and Tong. The surprise ending makes more sense when viewed in context of the Asian culture's emphasis on family, but it makes the ending that much more powerful and memorable. Bottom line: don't wait for ground delivery; have it airmailed as quickly as possible.

One note: In the copy distrbuted to film fests, there is one horrible subtitles error which changes the whole meaning of the movie's climactic exchange between Mew and Tong (a key 'not' is missing from a sentence), so the subtitles end up contradicting what's happening on screen. Hopefully the DVD will fix that and people won't be left scratching their heads at the end.