How to Win at Checkers (Every Time) (2015)

Best movie ever!

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

I watched this movie at Kashish, Mumbai's annual queer film festival, and loved it. A lot of people afterwards said the movie wasn't "really gay," but what they meant was the movie didn't make being gay a big issue. The story is told from the view of a boy so it's got an innocent charm. Ten year old Oat's older brother Ek is gay and has a boyfriend from his school days, and he thinks it's perfectly natural. He's more worried about Ek being drafted into the army, which, in Thailand is through a lottery system. Ek's boyfriend Jai managed to dodge the draft, with his family paying a bribe. In a hilarious scene, little Oat tries to get money to pay a bribe by robbing from the local drug lord -- and then presenting the money back to him as the bribe. The movie is populated with many interesting characters and it shows Thai life from a different perspective. Oat and Ek live with their aunt, a superstitious old lady who frees a fish from their aquarium into a nearby pond, for good Karma. Then there's that wonderful scene where Ek takes Oat out for a cheese burger on his birthday. Oat has seen ads for cheeseburgers on TV but he's never had one. But when he takes his first bite, the cheese tastes so disgusting he throws up! I can imagine this happening in any Asian country, including India and it's so symbolic of East meets West with disastrous results. The name of the movie comes from the game of checkers the two brothers play and how Oat buys himself a book of the same title and finally beats Ek, who then takes him out with him for a night on the town. What follows gives an unexpected twist to this hugely engaging and entertaining movie.

I watched this movie at Kashish Film Festival 2016. It's been a very long time since I have watched a movie this emotionally stirring. This is about the relationship between Ek and his younger sibling Oat, and we get an idea of the challenges faced by a family in contemporary Thailand through the experiences of the younger one. He watches his brother struggle, for him and his family. He watches Ek through the various stages of his relationship with another guy. It is interesting to see how their relationship is affected by the difference in economic class. I would recommend this movie for anyone who wants a new, fresh take on an emotional slice-of-life story.

Ek and Oat are brothers in the lower class in Thailand. They live with their auntie and eek out a living. Ek also has a boyfriend who is more privileged and the story revolves around the wonderful relationships of these two 21 year olds and the bond between Ek and his younger brother Oat. We meet family, friends and their transgender friend Kitty. Eeking out a living isn't always pretty in Bangkok and nothing appears sterilized. We also witness the annual lottery for young men who must serve in the armed forces.I loved this movie. The relationships are so real and loving and the bonds between everyone remind me of how tight knit a family can be.