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It Gets Better

It Gets Better

2012

Director

Tanwarin Sukkhapisit

Runtime

104 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Saitarn, a retired post-op transsexual, falls in love with a local mechanic. Tonmai has inherited a gay cabaret bar from his father. And Din is a high school boy whom his father found out to be a trans. His father sends him upcountry to be ordained hoping it may make him straight.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

8.1/10

Excellent


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Excellent

The film centers queer identities as the primary drivers of the plot. It features a retired post-operative trans woman and a gay cabaret bar, establishing these identities as foundational to the characters' lives.

Gender Representation

Excellent

The narrative disrupts traditional hierarchies by centering the lived experiences of trans women. It avoids tragic tropes by granting characters romantic agency and subverting patriarchal attempts to 'correct' gender identity.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Good

As a Thai production, the film offers a non-Western perspective on sexuality. While the cast is ethnically homogeneous, it provides a valuable departure from Anglo-centric queer narratives.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The film critiques traditional institutions by depicting religious ordination as a tool for behavioral modification. It favors secular, identity-based spaces like cabaret bars over traditional social structures.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no significant evidence regarding the portrayal of physical or neurodivergent disabilities within the narrative.

Strengths

  • Queer identities serve as the foundational drivers of the plot rather than mere inclusion.
  • Trans characters are granted romantic agency and developed, adult lives.
  • The film provides a valuable non-Western perspective on gender and sexuality.
  • It offers a sophisticated critique of using religion as a tool for behavioral modification.

Areas for Improvement

  • The cast remains ethnically homogeneous within its Thai setting.
  • There is no visible representation of physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

AI Analysis

It Gets Better is a significant piece of intersectional cinema that avoids tokenism by placing queer and trans characters in positions of agency. The characters' romantic and personal evolutions dictate the film's trajectory rather than serving as side plots. The film's strength lies in its ability to challenge conventional social expectations. It specifically examines the tension between religious tradition and gender identity, presenting these conflicts through a lens of personal autonomy. By replacing normative family narratives with a complex web of chosen family and identity-driven connections, the work effectively disrupts traditional social structures.

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