Jan Dara

Jan Dara is a 2001 Thai erotic-period-drama film directed and co-written by Nonzee Nimibutr and co-starring Hong Kong cinema actress Christy Chung. It is based on a novel by Utsana Phloengtham and follows the titular character as he attempts to break free from the cycle of sex and abuse perpetuated in his wealthy household while fulfilling his own pleasures and desires. The film premiered at the 2001 Toronto International Film Festival. In Thailand, the film was controversial because its sex scenes tested the censorship bounds of the 1930 Film Act. Plot Jan Dara is a boy growing up in 1930s Siam in a wealthy, dysfunctional family where sex has a huge impact on everyone's lives. Jan is viewed by his father, Khun Luang, as cursed, since his mother died giving birth to him, and he is relegated to doing servant work in the house as a result. The younger sister of Jan's mother, Aunt Waad, is brought in to care for Jan. The sex-addicted Luang has sex with many women in his household, including Waad, which Jan is constantly exposed to. Jan becomes jealous since he has developed feelings for his aunt. Waad and Luang have a daughter, Kaew. Luang spoils Kaew and raises her to despise her own brother. Waad, meanwhile, resents her daughter's rotten personality and affectionately treats Jan as her own son instead. The teenaged Jan befriends Khen, the son of the family cook, who has begun a secret relationship with Kaew's nanny Saisoi. Khen introduces him to sex by making him lose his virginity to Saisoi. He also falls in love with and pursues Hyacinth, a student he encounters and later escorts to her home daily after she finishes school.