#14,798 on the Mon, May 5 2008 7:19 | Reply

Well i've listened to it a couple of times, and it seems the umm errr is correctly translated! i will ask a thai friend if they can throw any light on it. I wondered if it Mew was actually referring to his sexuality here, in this scene. And Tong confirms that it doesn't matter to him.

 Ive emailed, but dont know how to attach when sending through here.

 If both my sources were from here, it was interesting some of the differences, how come? One that stood out was the scene with the dolls by the christmas tree. In one version the mother says:

"do as you please" which has a very different sentiment in english from the better version "do what you think is best for you".  

Mostly little differences like that.  

#14,816 on the Mon, May 5 2008 11:11 | Reply

Hey, i am from China. I saw this director cut version for a couple of times, and i have both chinese and english subtitles. I think my english subtitle should  pretty much the same as yours. From my understanding to this scence is that Mew is referring to his sexuality here, he want to know whether Tong think he is a little bit gay, but Tong didn't get it, he said Mew is no different than anyone else.

#14,827 on the Mon, May 5 2008 12:28 | Reply

I would agree but did Tong get it or not?  Tong seems to be a bit vague but I think he gets what Mew is saying.  I did not actually think Mew was asking that because I did not think that Mew even thought of himself that way at that time.  Thanks for resonding.

#23,225 on the Mon, Jul 14 2008 23:34 | Reply

Good catch feipuppy. I didnt make that connection on the xmas dolls.

Sorry for joining this bandwagon late.  I just found it on the torrents after reading about it on Trevvy.com.  I am sooooo in love with this movie (despite the sad ending) and also with Tong.

I loved Tong in this movie.  I like his acting bec he did much of it with his eyes and his cute smile.  Without saying a word, he showed his pensive emotions.

I am an Asian who now lives in America. And I can totally relate to Tong. In Asia (still the same now in China), parents are very unaccepting of gay sons.  Like Tong's mom, they want their sons to get married and have children.  Asian parents are rather selfish.  What they want for their kids is not for them to be happy; but rather for the kids to make their parents happy. For the kids to live out their parent's dreams and unfulfilled ambitions...  Many of the parents are poor and sacrifised much for their kids to get a better life. They see being gay as throwing away all the sacrifices that they made for their kids.  In a way I can understand where it comes from...

I too, was pressured by my family about being gay.  Initially, I took Tong's path. But it made me very unhappy.  I finally resisted my parents and followed my own destiny. But that also meant that I became estranged with my family...  I moved to America and left my family behind in Asia.  My mom died last year, and we never reconcile our differences...  

In this movie, Tong was between a rock and a hard place. If he chose his love, he would lose his family, which was just starting to mend. And as in the end, he chose his family, then he will always have a gap in his heart for Mew...

I think tho that the doll segment seems like the mom gave in. But in the end, Tong chose to appease his mom.  This is not unusual for Asian families with strong familial ties (read, guilt treatment).

We in American have come a long way. 50 years ago, many gays were also going through the same gay coming out experience.  We need to show understanding to asian gays and give their culture time to evolve.

Regards
Peter

ps

Thanks to all of you for your efforts in providing the subtitles.

#27,340 on the Sun, Aug 17 2008 20:05 | Reply

 I think it ended the way it did cause it was in asia. It's like up to us "open" minded people to make our own ending based on the scenes that held a symbolic meaning of mew and tong getting together. ^^

 

#29,558 on the Thu, Sep 4 2008 10:57 | Reply

I just came across this movie a couple of days ago and I have to say that I was absolutely floored by it. It's odd because the characters are waaay younger than I and yet it hit me harder than Brokeback Mountain. I'm still hoping that it gets atleast a DVD release here in the US because I would really like a subtitled copy of it. Anyone has any idea where I could get a hold of one?

I've been reading through a lot of blogs and forums and it seems like the most argued about bit of the movie is the one involving the christmas ornament. This scene ranks very high on my faves list because it's totally open to interpretation; hence it being the most argued about bit. I've read a lot about how people interpreted this scene and quite frankly, for a moment, I was totally confused. I guess that's what I get for reading loads and loads about it eventhough I've already formed an opinion in my head as I was watching the movie. The way I look at it, that scene established what Tong has known all along, denied, and has finally accepted. He's gay and he loves Mew. When he asked his mom which ornament she preferred, it's as if he's asking her who he should be with. A boy or a girl? He's young and very confused and he was looking to his mom to make the choice for him. I loved that his mom left it to him to make that choice. It showed that she's wise enough to know that what Tong feels for Mew is no mere crush or a bout with confusion. So much has happened in the past that established and solidified Tong and Mew's relationship and she took that into account. High praises for the actor who played Tong's mom because she was absolutely perfect in this scene. No words were needed. Her face said it all. That look she gave Tong --- it still kills me.  

 So...about the ending. " I can't be with you as your boyfriend but it doesn't mean that I don't love you." Oh heaven kill me now! This line will be stuck in my head forever. As soon as Tong said that, I started crying because I saw it coming. Like you, I was hoping they would end up together but my guts told me they wouldn't. I cried harder when I saw Mew cry his heart out. He was hurting. He wanted to be with Tong. Tong professed his love and yet can't be with him. How much more can a young heart take? But then, through the tears he uttered one simple word. Thank you. What was he supposed to be thankful for? His heart just got a beating. And then it hit me, "WHEN THERE'S LOVE, THERE'S HOPE". Mew knew Tong loves him. He knows that it would have to be enough for the tme being. They may not be together but atleast he has that --- he has the most important thing to him. He had Tong's heart.

This film, for me, truly captures what love is and everything else that comes along with it --- heartbreak, sacrifice, acceptance ---the list goes on. It is essentially a celebration of love and what it takes to love and be loved.

So....did I like the way it ended? Absolutely!!! I would have loved to see Tong and Mew together too but I don't believe it would have had the same effect on me; on us. I mean look at us, we can't let go of the movie. As far as sequels go, I'm on the fence. It would be nice to see if at some point in their lives, they really get to be with each other. On the other hand, I'd like to keep the idealism and innocence of their love. Plus, it would be a really tall task to even try to recapture the magic of this film. For now, I am content that there's hope for our two young star-crossed lovers. It 's enough to believe that there is such a love out there somewhere .....for all of us.

 

*** It was pointed out in this forum that the movie ended that way because it was Asian. I am one and I think (although I hope that it's not just an Asian thing) there's truth in that. Family is an individual's priority. You live to honor your family --- family above personal wants and needs. ***

#34,373 on the Wed, Oct 1 2008 6:21 | Reply

thanks Mattie for your response... quite a bit you had to say but it was enjoyable to read. the movie has affected you like it has affected everyone else. Truly touching and well done.  The director's cut is actually nice too.

#36,530 on the Mon, Oct 13 2008 6:00 | Reply

I totally agree with Mattie's view. I soo this movie (director's cut) last night (with this site subtitles...thanks!!!") and i can't really let it go. My heart is still broken and expectant for a happy ending!

I didn't expect that sort of ending, really, I soo many gay love stories with various types of conclusions. As you probably know there isn't very often a suspend ending (like i intrepret this one) in this kind of films. Or one of the lead character dyes (very,very,very,too often!) or one leaves, or the couple pass trough some hard issues and get the happy ending. But here, Tong's final decision, that "i can't be your boyfriend" really catch me unprepared!
In 2008, see a character that make a such sad decision (to not come out for the good of his family) really pissed me off! I can understand it, i know that asian and thay culture is not open minded like American or european, and I know that there were sure on the intention of the director and screenplayer to let the story open at the fauvorite viewer intepretation, but i can not really get trogugh it.

Anyway,this surelly become one of my best love movies, I think I'll see it manymany times and everytime I'll cry like a baby on the end!

p.s I pre-emptively apologize for the english errors that I certainly made. I write from Italy, but i can't find nothing on italian websites or forums of this movie... probably not more of 30 persons will have see this film here...XD But I think i'll translate in italian this subitles for let it see to some friends and for everyone would like!

#39,544 on the Wed, Oct 29 2008 2:43 | Reply

eh, kindly send me some of the subtitles in my email.. dodongxiali@yahoo.com

#39,709 on the Thu, Oct 30 2008 0:16 | Reply

yeah, Mew is referring to his sexuality and i know that Tong got it. ( you can try to see the previous scenes on this one). Tong got what Mew asked. The thing is, Tong didn't put too much emphasis on that thing cause Mew is very important to him. That's what you feel when you do love someone... There is no "if's" and there is no "but"... And when you truly love someone, you will accept whoever or whatever he is.. right?

#44,166 on the Sat, Nov 22 2008 4:19 | Reply

 So... I just sat through the well subbed director's cut version of this movie.  Sorry if I am posing a question that is steering away from the current topic, but it's killing me.  Tang/June... wtf?!  Perhaps it's late and I can't connect all the stories she told and piece together fact from fiction yet, or maybe I'm dense.  Does anyone have a clear idea of who she is and the real backstory.