May 16, 2024 – Ahead of the June 13 debut of Doctor Climax, a new trailer for the series gives viewers a taste of the questions about sex and intimacy that its protagonist fields as a real doctor who moonlights as a controversial newspaper columnist in 1970s Thailand.

Inspired by actual letters from well-known columns of the era, the series is helmed by Kongdej Jaturanrasmee (also the series’ screenwriter, and the writer and producer behind the hit film Hunger) and Pairach Khumwan (one of the directors for popular series Girl From Nowhere).

To recreate 1970s Thailand, both directors and the production crew drew on personal memories, as well as old photos, interviews, and movies sourced from the Thai Film Archive.

“During that time, the country had just undergone political turmoil, was still in the throes of the Cold War, and other significant events were continually in the air,” says Kongdej. “People felt constrained by societal norms, yet simultaneously were striving to break free and assert their own freedoms.”

From conformity to rebellion

Take for example Dr. Nat, played by Ter-Chantavit Dhanasevi. This character feels trapped by the conventions of his profession and family. “He lives a robotic existence devoid of pleasure, fun, or vibrancy,” Ter observes. “However, everything changes when he becomes a columnist.”

Helping to spark his transformation is Linda, the art department head at the newspaper that publishes the Doctor Climax column. She is played by Goy-Arachaporn Pokinpakorn, who describes her character as resilient: “She possesses a rebellious spirit that defies the social mores of the 1970s, a time when women’s liberties were still limited.”

The series’ exploration of sexuality includes some “very intense” love scenes, as director Pairach, also known as Pokpong, puts it. “The pressure from these kinds of scenes is already high, but higher when we need to shoot them while making sure the cast feels safe and can trust us,” he shares. “It turned out shooting all these scenes brought us closer — the cast members, the camera crew, and the directors.”

Sexuality as a lens

The show uses sexuality to explore not just intimacy, but also larger social issues. “Sexuality impacts individuals on a personal level, within households, and extends to society as a whole, so I think sex is a good tool for discussing the broader picture of society,” Kongdej believes.

“Even though society may have become more open-minded, there are still a lot of issues that remain unchanged. I think that when we produce work that reflects the past, we should compare and contrast how things have changed up to this point. What needs improvement? What remains the same or lags behind? This can send a reflective message to viewers, allowing them to ask questions.”