I had so much fun watching this series and it has happened after a long time in the Thai BL landscape. The stories are all starting to merge into one another, especially the university love ones. Of late a lot of makers are making some sort of historical dramas. But this was different. Making the lead actor identify himself as a trans, this show is the right mix of drama, laughter, emotions and politics. I will talk in details but the lead actor of this show is an absolute hoot in this show and if not for his enjoyable and addictive OTT acting, this show would have fallen flat. The series has 13 episodes of about 45-50 minutes each. We meet Prince, an out and about flamboyant pop singer who has as many fans as he does haters. We see both the adoration and the vilification he faces for openly embracing his queerness. One day after a freak accident, he finds himself in the body of a count (a young nobleman) in hostly in Thonburi Kingdom. He is now Woradet and the series goes full throttl...
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The play follows story of 4 childhood friends set in Texas. Each one of them struggles with his sexuality in a varying way. Mark, who also serves as narrator, questions the Baptist church that preaches love and forgiveness while decrying homosexuality; Benny fully embraces his gayness, growing up to become a flamboyant drag queen entertainer; TJ (Mark's first love) desperately tries to deny who he is, eventually getting married to a woman; and Andrew, the most troubled of the group, wrestles with the conflicting demands of his faith and his sexuality with ultimately tragic results. In addition to these we have an older gay man Peanut and his best friend, an alcoholic Odette, who humorously discuss their lives and comment on the proceedings during numerous sessions at a gay bar. We see how the boys interact, trying to teach each other a thing or two, help each other, support each other; we also see families reactions and how ultimately it affects all their lives.
It i snot easy to sit through this long movie/play, specially when there are a lot of monologues that keep coming one after the other. But its the humour by the old friends in a gay bar that keeps the goings alive. We do get to witness the pain, anguish and sufferings by the boys and what they all are going through. It is a good mix of pain and humour. Sometimes the pain comes abruptly in the midst of the comedy, but it is the real pain known all too well by young queers trying desperately to understand who they are and what other people think of them. The message of Sissies is one of hope and healing for those who grew up in the church. An unflinching portrayal of the kind of damage the church continues to do even more strongly today. The performances by all actors is incredible and praise worthy and kudos to the makers for bringing out something so important to a wider audience.
The format of the play will unfortunately find a very niche audience for the film but sensitive performances and an important subject warrant a viewing. (6/10)
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