Censors ban Thai gay-themed film

[Admin]

Censors ban Thai gay-themed film
- The Nation 2010-11-11

The Board of Censors has banned the gay-themed Thai film “Insects in the Backyard” by transvestite director Tanwarin Sukkhapisit.

“The film’s content goes against public order or morality,” the board said yesterday.

The film is about a transvestite father, played by Tanwarin, whose teenage daughter and son are confused about their sexuality and end up entering the sex trade. The film has explicit scenes involving masturbation and teenagers in school uniforms engaging in various sexual acts with clients.

Tanwarin, whose film premiered last month at the Vancouver International Film Festival and was screened this week at the World Film Festival of Bangkok, said she did not expect the ban.

Hoping to release the movie commercially, she applied for the 20- rating, which restricts it to audiences aged 20 and older.

“This film is not supposed to be viewed by those younger than that,” said Tanwarin, who has made many award-winning short films. The director said that by banning her film, the board proved that it did not acknowledge gay life. She said she would appeal and vowed not to cut any scenes to win approval.

[isanbirder]

They don't seem to have banned it because it was gay, but because of explicit sex scenes.  Anyway, in most countries, censors seem to make their own rules as they go along.  I have a friend who is a film censor... and he does exactly that!