Fathers is a Thai movie that tackles the intricacies of same sex union that is currently not recognized in the country. While the message is still the same, tolerance is cool and all but we want the legal rights that come with it, it is also a slap in the face of same sex couples thinking that the recognition their union is the endgame. It is not. It's only half of the battle. The other half lies in acceptance by society. What is the worth of a piece of paper if society, both people you know and don't, keeps putting you down? These small wars are what one of half of the couple Phoon battles with, the biological father of their son, who must contend with what society recognizes as a family unit. His partner Yuki meanwhile is all guns blazing, damn those who gets in his way until it he comes head to head with Phoon himself. Will their relationship survive, or will they crumble under the pressure of society?
Phoon is played by Utt Panichkul, you may remember him as VJ Utt from MTV Asia in the 90s, who's further proof that men age like wine. He did okay for his first lead role in a movie. While acting isn't necessarily the strongest suit of Fathers, you stay for the story because if you are gay, you want to know how it will turn out for them (as well as for you in the near future) and if you are straight, you stay because want to know how to be a better human being. The movie is great in that it's not preachy, and it doesn't force you to pick a side; it will just show you the world we live in now and let you decide what role you can play in it. One message does hold true for everyone: however you identify, you can never go wrong with compassion. While as a society we still have a long way to go, we will eventually get there with one LGBT+ movie or tv show at a time.
Phoon is played by Utt Panichkul, you may remember him as VJ Utt from MTV Asia in the 90s, who's further proof that men age like wine. He did okay for his first lead role in a movie. While acting isn't necessarily the strongest suit of Fathers, you stay for the story because if you are gay, you want to know how it will turn out for them (as well as for you in the near future) and if you are straight, you stay because want to know how to be a better human being. The movie is great in that it's not preachy, and it doesn't force you to pick a side; it will just show you the world we live in now and let you decide what role you can play in it. One message does hold true for everyone: however you identify, you can never go wrong with compassion. While as a society we still have a long way to go, we will eventually get there with one LGBT+ movie or tv show at a time.
