Imagine if you will, Li Ming decides to become an interpreter
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I know some people were slightly annoyed with the way Heart's (and Li Ming's) sign language wasn't subtitled but I'm pretty sure that was the point? Why should Heart communicate with people who haven't learnt to communicate with him?
He lives in a world where people (including his own family) expect him to make accommodations for them when it comes to communication but who don't return the favour. The audience is part of that world too.
Edit because I had more thoughts:
Something I want to add:
While I understand that it probably felt odd to a international, non-Thai speaking audience to suddenly have to subtitles cut off when Heart started signing, the effect would have been exactly the same for the Thai speaking audience who, up until that point, would have understood everything perfectly without subtitles. We're supposed to find the sudden lack of understanding jarring, we're supposed to physically feel the communication barrier and the frustrations that it brings (frustrations that Heart has deal with all the time).
While there are definitely arguments to made about whether "othering" Heart this way was the best way to highlight the difficulties he faces in a hearing-biased world, personally I found it incredibly effective. It made me realise that even if the show was in my mother tongue, I still wouldn't have been able to understand Heart because of my own lack of knowledge and it made me start to question whether I'm okay with that being the case.
There is also one instance where signing is subtitled and it's at the very end where Wen signs to Heart:
And why is that? Because finally, finally, after years of people not making an effort to communicate with him on his own terms, the people in Heart's world are trying, finally they are reaching out to him. Moonlight Chicken's ending is a happy one, with all the loose ends tied up and dreams on the route to coming true, and in that happy ending, finally, everyone can understand one another.
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I wouldn't say that Moonlight Chicken EP1 is already hinting on a potential sob-worthy past with Li Ming. He's a bit rude and hot tempered, but his scene with Heart's parents was indignant. It's warranted! Let's not chalk it up to "Li Ming is reacting violently; his past must be involved around here" when he's clearly wronged and reacting in a way anybody would react. Heart lied about the accident, and now he has to work for something that's technically nobody's fault.
He's not overreacting. He's just reacting.
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Just saying that I adore every single MLC character because they are so well written and flawed and real with their problems and good and bad sides.
I love that jim is caring but also incredibly obedient to those who are richer and more powerful than him and is a coward.
I love that Wen is a good listener but can't set boundaries and at the same time crosses them all the time himself.
I love that Li Ming so wholeheartedly wants justice and the best for everyone but is also so quick to blow up.
I love that Heart wants to be loved so much and understood that he... nah i dont see flaws in Heart, he is lovely and perfect bye.
I love that Alan would set the world on fire for the people and things he loves but can't come to terms with them.
I love Gaipa. For everything. Nothing to add.
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Thank you. For trying to speak with me.
MOONLIGHT CHICKEN (2023)
dir. Backaof Noppharnach
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the fact heart's mom calls him mute really got me.
he's deaf, but he can speak, he has a voice. his parents just never wanted to understand him.
when heart accused them of being ashamed of him, he was 100% accurate and he's been feeling it for three years. it was pure torture to watch heart's frustration trying to communicate with his parents, imagine what's like to be him.
imagine if li ming didn't show up, imagine how heart would continue to be shut down and excluded because his parents didn't bother finding a way to communicate with him.
imagine how lonely heart has been and would continue to be. li ming is more than a friend because he did what no one else tried to do before.
he chose to listen.
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