Upcoming Thai movie “Insects in the Backyard” banned in Thailand

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After watching the trailer, I am extremely excited to see this new movie. Unfortunately, the movie is being banned by the Ministry of Culture of Thailand. The movie Insects in the Backyard, based on the description appeared on the official document from the ministry, is banned because it may portray teenage prostitution while students are still in uniform. (So if they are not in uniform, it would have been fine. Seriously?) I admit that I will have to read more on Thai censorship law but the decision to ban the movie in Thailand altogether is simply outrageous. The rating of NC-17 is not even granted to this movie so it will not be shown in the country to the people who need to see the reality of sexuality in Thailand.

Why can’t we respect art for art’s sake? If people are willing to spend money on the movie, just let them watch it. Do we always need to sanitize our art?

Synopsis of Insects in the Backyard

The case of Mai Muan ใ

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This lesson is for intermediate to advance Thai level.

Though ใ (mai muan) and ไ (mai ma-lai) both create the sound “-ai” in Thai, there are only twenty words that use ใ (mai muan).

As a kid, this is how we memorize it in school. It is a poem that has all the words spelled with Mai Muan ใ

I have also provide a word for word translation of the poem since translating poetry is not my expertise.

ผู้ใหญ่หาผ้าใหม่

(the head of the village)(look for)(cloth)(new)

ให้สะใภ้ใช้คล้องคอ

(for)(daughter in law)(use)(hang, to wrap around)(neck)

ใฝ่ใจเอาใส่ห่อ

(desire)(take)(to put in)(wrap)

มิหลงใหลใครขอดู

(not)(yield)(anybody)(ask)(to look at)

จะใคร่ลงเรือใบ

(will)(want)(go on board)(sailing boat)

ดูน้ำใสและปลาปู

(watch, look at)(water)(clear)(and)(fish)(crab)

สิ่งใดอยู่ในตู้

(something)(is located)(in)(cabinet)

มิใช่อยู่ใต้ตั่งเตียง

(is not)(located in)(under)(bed)

บ้าใบ้ถือใยบัว

(mad and mute person)(hold)(lotus fiber)

หูตามัวมาใกล้เคียง

(ear)(eye)(blurred)(come)(close)

เล่าท่องอย่าละเลี่ยง

(recite)(don’t)(neglect)

ยี่สิบม้วนจำจงดี

(20)(mai muan)(to remember)(well)