page_title: Love of Siam
section_title: Marketing controversy and audience response
hierarchical_section_title: Love of Siam / Reception / Marketing controversy and audience response
caption_attribution_description: Press conf. of concert "Nokia Music Presents The Love of Siam Special Greeting" (From left to right - Mario Maurer,Kanya Rattanapetch, Witwisit Hiranyawongkul and Chukiat Sakweerakul
context_page_description: Love of Siam is a 2007 Thai multi-layered romantic-drama film written and directed by Chookiat Sakveerakul. The film tells a story of love, friendship and family. The film was released in Thailand on November 22, 2007. The fact that the gay romance storyline was not apparent from the film's promotional material initially caused controversy, but the film was received with critical acclaim and proved financially successful. It dominated Thailand's 2007 film awards season, winning the Best Picture category in all major events.
context_section_description: Marketed as a typical teen romance between boys and girls, the gay aspect of the love story was controversial. Thai-language web boards were posted with messages of support, as well as accusations by moviegoers that they were misled into watching "a gay movie." Writer/director Chookiat Sakveerakul admitted the film was marketed on the film posters and in the film's previews as a straight romance because he wanted it to reach a wider audience.
  "The movie is not all about gay characters, we are not focusing on gay issues, we are not saying, 'let's come out of the closet,' so obviously, we don't want the movie to have a 'gay' label," he said in an interview. But the director confirmed the mixed reaction of audiences. "I went incognito to a movie theater and observed the audience. I didn't expect such a strong reaction. Maybe I was just too optimistic that homophobia in Thai society had subsided."
caption: From left to right - Mario Maurer, Kanya Rattanapetch, Witwisit Hiranyawongkul and Chookiat Sakveerakul.
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