HOW TO WIN AT CHECKERS (EVERY TIME)

Thailand, 2015, 80 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Josh Kim.

This film was Thailand’s nominee for consideration for the 2015 Academy Awards, Foreign Language films.

This is a brief film about the Thai countryside with excursions into the city of Bangkok. It is designed as a memoir, an 11-year-old called Oat, looking back on his life and, especially on his brother.

The two boys have lost their parents and are being looked after by an aunt who also has a child. Living is not easy, money not always available. The aunt has some hope when the older boy has to go to the military draft. If he receives a red card, he will go into the armed forces and be able to draw a salary which he can send home.

There is a focus on the older brother who is in a gay relationship with a wealthy friend, the film taking for granted, without specific comment, gay relationships. The wealthy man, however, escapes the draft because his father has bought off the authorities, something which dismays the brother.

The film is built up by scenes in village life, the relationship between the two gay young men, life for the 11-year-old – rather complicated after the draft by the young boy riding on his brother’s motorbike, his brother teaching him to ride, but going into a club in the city where the older boy is a call boy.

There is some pathos at the end, the fate of the young man in his military service – and the rueful looking back by the older Oat.

1. Thailand’s Oscar nominee for 2015?

2. Thai, the feel of Thailand and its people?

3. The locations, the town, Bangkok city, homes, clubs, streets? The musical score?

4. Title, with reference to Oat, finding the book, playing checkers with his brother, losing, learning from the book, special technique and defeating his brother?

5. The story from Oat’s perspective, as an adult, his voice over, memories and his comment on what had happened to him? His parents, his father and the bike, their deaths? His bond with his brother, at home, the aunt looking after them, their cousin? At school, friends? The meetings with Kitty, her saving him from Junior at the drug scene? Friendship with Jai, matter-of-fact about Ek’s relationship with Jai, concerned about the draft, about finance for looking after them if Ek were to go to the Army? Stealing the money and the bottle of whiskey? Attempting to bribe the boss? His angry reaction, ticking off Oat and Ek? Ek’s principles? Dressing properly for the draft, Oat present at the draft, the aftermath, allowed to ride the bike, going to going to the sex club, smoking cigarettes, seeing Ek with his client?

6. Ek, ordinary young man, the prospect of the draft, his relationship with Jai, their bonds, the scenes together, the issue of the bribe about the draft, Ek not believing in bribes, disgust at Jai, getting dressed for the draft, his aunt’s concern, getting the red card, assigned to the Army? Getting money as a call boy? Teaching Oat to ride on the bike, the ride and its exhilaration – the first and the last? His being appointed to the south, the patrol, on the bike, being killed? The tribute of the funeral?

7. Jai, age, wealthy background, relationship with Ek, outings, his father bribing to get him out of the draft?

8. Kitty, transgender, the hormones, her friendship, at the club, helping Oat?

9. The aunt, running the household, lack of money, gift of grilled chicken, her concern about and his salary and caring for the children?

10. The opening, the intimations of the draft, the young men being measured? The draft itself? The National anthem? The box, each of the
candidates drawing his card?

11. The image of Ek fire? In dreams? His shaking the drugs and the fear of explosion?

12. The boss, Junior, thugs and drugs?

13. A story of contemporary Thailand?