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Social problem movies (หนังสะท้อนสังคม) produced in the 1980s presented various problems in Thai society. Most of social problem movies (หนังสะท้อนสังคม) present the problems of poor people such as prostitutes, peasants, and slum-dwellers. The protagonists are usually poor people in rural and urban areas. To fight against poverty and support their family, some women become prostitutes. This section also includes some foreign documentaries linked to prostitution in Thailand.

It is about Malee, a Thai country girl, coming to Bangkok and forced to prostitution. She is the hotel angel as she is very kind to everybody. This movie shows the difficult life of prostitutes, i.e. being beaten by pimps, visiting unofficial abortionist in order to terminate unwanted pregnancy, committing suicide, being forced and humiliated by customers, fearing Police, difficulty to have a stable relationship with a man, getting deadly diseases, being denigrated by Thai society. Three girls are depicted. One girl, Malee, all you have to do is give her one smack and she's willing to be a prostitute. She said it's better than working in the fields. The phrase "มาลีเป็นกะหรี่ที่สวยที่สุด" (Malee is the most beautiful prostitute) remains one of the most famous iconic sentence from this movie. It is said by Malee's pimp (Sorapong Chatree). Another girl, you have to beat her up quite a bit before she's willing to be a prostitute. And the last one, the third girl, no matter what you do she won't be a prostitute. She'll jump down, kill herself, but you can't change her. Malee continues to stick to this life because she can have a place to live, food, money to send to her parents in order to build a house. In a famous movie sequence, Malee opens her blouse many times to show her nudity to customers and then her father in the same gesture opens his new home windows paid by Malee hardship. But Malee understands that she has no future as her youth is rushing away. She is not interested by becoming a pimp and grab younger girls so she decides to study tailoring. Being cheated by her boyfriend but having her diploma, Malee can hope for a brighter life and quit this job. Finally she reclaims her dignity. ChatriChalerm Yukol lived for nine months in a brothel when he was writing "The Angel". During the popular uprising on October 14 1973, ChatriChalerm Yukol was shooting this movie, then took the camera out and filmed the demonstration on Ratchadamnoen Avenue. The footage was inserted in the film and was a big success when the movie was shown. This movie has also been registered as National Heritage per the 2016 list released by the Thai Film Archive.

In Bar 21, customers can forget their problems thanks to the beautiful ladies and alcohol (มาเที่ยว). Hostess Thida quits her job to stay with her four years boyfriend, Parn. Parn is younger than Thida about five years. She leaves her job to stay in Chiang Mai. Girls working in Bar 21 are called "Partner". Their dream is to be a normal person also but they are often denigrated (ดูถูกผู้หญิง). They need to get money (เกิดมาจน) but can enjoy a certain kind of freedom (เสรี). All are waiting for a new life (ชีวิตที่ดีกว่า), waiting for the day they will quit Bar 21 (ชีวิตใหม่). Linda arrives in Chiang Mai just on time for Parn’s university diploma ceremony. She offers to him a beautiful watch and cash money but Parn seems to have forgotten his promise to marry her when he gets the diploma (จบแล้ว). He refuses to fulfill his promise. He is now a diploma university holder so he cannot marry a “partner” as he has now a certain status (เกียรติ). Despite she pays for his studies and now stops working for him, he refuses this love saying he cannot (ไม่มีบุญคุณ). He took advantage of her during many years. Marrying a “partner” would stain him for the whole life. He doesn't want to offer her a chance of redemption. In the train back to Bangkok, Linda is harassed by three young men taking advantage that she is a “partner” so an "easy" lady. She meets in the train two other young farmers (ทำนา), Sing and Rot, coming from countryside (บ้านนอก) and going to Bangkok to find better jobs. Sing and Rot have arguments and fight with the three young men to protect Linda. Rot is shot. The three young men cannot escape punishment despite one of them, Akom, is a son of parliament member. Linda is back to work in Bar 21. Sing is lost in Bangkok (เมืองหลวง). Sing is hungry and has no money. He meets a little girl living in a slum (สลัม). She is a small robber. Sing helps them to sell opium in the slum. Sing and the family are caught by the police (ผมไม่ผิด). There is analogy between countryside people coming to Bangkok and Linda, the “partner”. They are all doing low cast jobs. Linda meets a son of a rich family, Thanong. He is really nice to her and invites her to his birthday. Linda starts to dream again (อาจเป็นคนนี้). She has a lot of fun (ดื่มเหล้าเก่ง) and happiness during this evening. After the party, Thanong asks her to help his brother Akom, who is now in jail. She should wrongly testify in front of a trial. She understands that everything was a lie. Thanong, ผู้ดี, just tries to use her. As she refuses to lie, strong arguments between values of poor people, “partner” and rich people are bitterly raised. She refuses money offered to her in order to lie. Back home, she is attacked at nighttime by two ruffians. An old man (ท่าน) helps her but he is in fact Akom's father. He succeeds to convince Linda by playing on her motherhood feeling, the possibility to do a good action and become Angel (เทพ) Thida. In the police station Linda accuses Sing. Poor people are in hell and rich people are in heaven because of money difference. Akom's father gives money to thank her but she doesn't want money but social recognition. Sing flees from police station and goes to see Linda so that she tells the truth at the trial. Sing is poor but kind hearted. She accepts as knowing she has been deceived by rich people. As Thanong just visits Linda to abuse her, Thanong and Sing fight. Sing is shot by the police. It is a dark and sad movie about poor and uneducated people abused by rich Bangkokian people. Of course Thanong stops visiting Linda. It is more a showpiece than a social study, the film is nevertheless remembered for its undaunted subjects. The film was not successful at box office but received good reviews and two awards (ตุ๊กตาทอง). It is a drama social move mixed with a musical comedy as many songs are featured. A Thai TV drama serie based on the same story was released in 1990.

In North of Thailand, a mother has got two daughters, Pim and Kaew. Pim has been a prostitute and has now a new boyfriend. Kaew is in love with a poor peasant. The mother pushes Kaew to go to Bangkok during one year to be a prostitute in order to buy her a house and pay her debts. Pim tries to hinder her mother but has to go to Bangkok. In Bangkok, she discovers that her boyfriend is already married. She also discovers that she is sick with leprosy. Meanwhile Kaew follows her mother's order and goes to Bangkok to be come a prostitute. Pim's boyfriend left her and now takes care about Kaew. Knowing this, the boyfriend's wife throws acid on Kaew's face. Nobody becomes happy. This movie shows the good view (girls going back to their home with nice clothes, gifts to family, money to buy house) and the sad view (girls beaten by pimps, forced to have many customers and getting diseases). It also emphasizes the cruel dilemma, i.e. stays poor or loses dignity but becomes rich.

This movie is about prostitutes's hard life, i.e. rape, violent pimp, having a baby with no father, their life without hope and good future, the society disdain, their life as sex objects and without any consideration from their customers, the "MAMASAN" forcing to serve too many customers every night, the sadness of being old and still a prostitute, young prostitutes' suicide. One day a prostitute with a baby quits the bordel to live with a man, who really loves her. Unfortunately he is a killer ("MEU PEUN" - มือปืน). Will she ever find happiness?

Boonrawd is coming from a poor Isan family but she is proud and wants to succeed in work and family. During Vietnam war she works in a Pattaya restaurant and also opens a small bakery. An American officer, who speaks Thai language, wants to become her friend as he appreciates her strong spirit and mind. She faces the discrimination of prostitutes (Boonrawd is strong minded and refuses to become a prostitute for easy money), American GIs (they think all Thai women can be bought), Thai people (discrimination when she is seen with the American officer). Boonrawd faces pressure from her mother who wants her to become a prostitute (same as her sister) in order to pay her mother's lottery bills. She finally overcomes all difficulties and marries her American officer.

It is about of feminist association fighting for women rights. They help women forced to prostitution, women beaten by their drunk husbands, women raped in police jails. They strongly punish the men doing bad acts. Their gaining popularity annoys a local felonious politician. This one is using gunmen to get rid of the association. Can they win?

A young lady called Feun (Sinjai Hongthai) is working in a hairdresser shop and washes customers' hair. Khun Warut (Apichat Halamjiak), one customer, has interest in Feun. Phaen (Piathip Kumwong), Feun’s stepmother, tries to push her to go out with Warut. Feun’s father (Somsak Chaisongkram) indulges in alcohol and is seriously sick. Aniwat is Feun's close friend and wishes to marry her when he finishes his studies. Pressured by Phaen, Feun accepts a dinner invitation from Warut. Aware of this, Aniwat feels betrayed. Warut asks for Feun's hand. Phaen pushes her to accept. Troubled, she wishes to talk to Aniwat. But seeing him with another lady, she finally accepts Warut's offer. Warut starts to be more daring with Feun knowing they will marry soon. The wedding shall be a very small ceremony without Warut's parents. In fact, Warut is already married with three children. Phaen was aware. Warut and Feun don't understand each other. Feun likes to stay home but Warut likes to go to disco. Phaen is not interested in Feun's father but only in money that Warut gives to Feun. Warut doesn't come back home a few days already. While doing shopping with Warut, Warut and Feun meet Warut's wife. Feun understands that Warut lied to her (โลกลวง). She flees but is hit by a car. She is rescued by a DJ who introduces her to another lady called Luang. Feun cannot go back home as she doesn't want to be forced by Phaen again or to meet Warut again. Luang is working as a call girl. First Feun looks for normal jobs (waitress) but she still faces men harassment. She cannot find proper jobs (อยากเป็นคนดีแต่สังคมไม่ยอม). So she has finally no choice than working same as Luang as she is worried about her father. It is a difficult job as some men are crazy or violent. She enters in a whirlpool of sex and easy money. One day, one of her guest is Aniwat! Aniwat still believes Feun is a good person despite doing this job (ต้องการเงิน). Aniwat still loves Feun. Feun accepts to start a real love relationship with Aniwat. Their love is spoilt by meeting some former customers while dining and by a liver disease due to alcohol high level of consumption. Aniwat's friend tries to break this relationship. Feun's friend finds that Aniwat is already fiance with a teacher. Knowing this, she indulges in alcohol again and ends up in hospital. Despite cutting part of her liver, she will not survive long. She leaves the hospital and stays near the sea. Knowing Aniwat's wedding, she ends up in hospital again. Her friend forces Aniwat to visit her to hospital so that he can understand her real love and the pain he caused her. Feun dies in front of him. Movie สายน้ำไม่ไกลกลับ highlights society hypocrisy as it is allowed or understood that a man can have multiple mistresses but the opposite is not accepted. It highlights a society where men harassment is still excessive.

It deals about a young Thai lady, Waew, sent to Japan to become an escort girl (โสเภณี). Her parents are poor farmers. Waew is the elder sister and has decided to sell her body in Tokyo in order to support her parents and younger sister (น้องสาว). She discovers the sad life there, the huge debt to pay back. Anyway she supports her family by sending money back home. She wishes her father to build a new house instead of the shack, in which they are living. Homesick, she goes back home and discovers that her father has lost all the money she has sent due to unscrupulous investments and gambling (การพนัน), her mother has become a nun (บวชชี), her sister is partying everyday after learning that Waew is a prostitute. The younger sister's moraly is tarnished by living in Bangkok. Money has destroyed her family (เสียผู้เสียคน). Fed up by her family who doesn't understand and compassionate about her burden, she goes back to Japan. Disappointed by her pimp's selfishness, she kills herself. In 1989, the movie got Thai movie "best scenario" award (รางวัลตุ๊กตาทอง). In 1980s many Thai girls went to work as prostitutes in Japan so director Toranong Srichua wanted to show their fate through his movie. He went to Japan with a 32 people team during 15 days to shoot the movie. Even a Yakusa gang (แก๊งยากูซ่า) helped to close Shinjuku street (ถนนชินจูกุ) for 5 hours. Actress Darin Kornsakoon became famous thanks to this role. In 1980s, movies were shown in a limited number of cinemas in Bangkok. Toranong Srichua's movies often got only secondary grade cinemas but thanks to "Twilight in Tokyo" movie, the film was released in first grade cinemas and it was full at each session.

This is the second opus of "Twilight in Tokyo". The Thai lady is not dead but only hurt. Back to Bangkok, she takes revenge over her previous pimp by having her own business.

Kaew is a beautiful university student but she is coming from a poor family. Accompanying a friend for job interview, she meets a lady, Waew, that proposes her to work as escort girl and promises her easy money and life. Kaew has to leave her aunt's house as her uncle is trying to take advantage on her so she accepts to work as escort girl and gives 40% to the mamasan. She gets 30 000 Baht for the first night for the loss of virginity. She gets used to easy money. She starts to get advantage of the men that wish to marry her, her office boss and her university friend, Chon. Both of them buy her gold bracelets. Chon is a nice guy coming from country side (Santisuk Promsiri plays again a character similar to Boonchu) with only a 5000 Baht monthly salary. He even sends her money to prepare the dower. A german customer, Jacob, also proposes to marry her in Germany. But Kaew has higher goals. She is used to easy money and doesn't want to lower down her status. She starts to seduce the son of a rich family, who is already fianced. He rapidly gets fond of Kaew. The parents reject this love and enquiry on Kaew's side activities. They cut their son pocket money and his car. The relationship gets tense with Kaew as she is the one to support to him. They finally break up. Meanwhile Chon and Kaew's office boss understand they have been tricked and the police catches her. Kaew tries to have a new life but fails. Being too old for working with Waew as escort girl, she gets trapped with a brutal local pimp, who beats her and forces her to see many customers. She only escapes this hell by stabbing him. Wishing to get an easy life, she only gets pain. She finally leaves for Germany by answering positively to Jacob's offer. Arriving there, some local men take her passport and money. She understands she has been tricked in a local prostitution ring again. She needs to work hard to pay back her debt to Jacob. Fed up by this life with no future, she starts to deeply upset the local prostitution ring. Finally Jacob strangles Kaew. This movie shows the bad situation in which young Thai ladies can be trapped if they choose easy money way of life.

It is about a young Thai lady leaving her country and going to Germany in order to find a husband through a wedding agency. It shows the harsh life of those ladies dreaming of a prince, the abuse of such wedding agency, the bad behavior of those foreigners wishing to "try" their wives before any wedding. This movie has got four Thai awards and was shot in five countries, i.e. Thailand, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Austria. Thida Thidarat got the best actress award for this movie.

This movie is adapted from Thai author Rong Wongsawan's best-selling novel. It follows the lives, loves and lusts of men and women whose relationships start in a high-class brothel 50 years ago. This post-war story focuses on love and relationships between the brothel madam, a pimp, young prostitutes and customers. It relates many stories about customers that come for initiation, customers that are in a lovestory with a girl but suffer because she has to go also with other customers to gain money, customers that marry girls, girls who get diseases... The movie highlights the tough existence for those ladies without a livelihood. The story is set when the Thai government was planning to outlaw prostitution. Home-style brothels were flourishing without any competition from massage parlours and entertainment complexes. Many women were driven to prostitution to support themselves as a result of poverty and basic education. 50 years ago Thai society encouraged women to stay at home. No need to study as the future husband shall take care about them.

This Singaporean-Thai docudrama was shot in 2 weeks in red district Singapore Geylang. It is about two groups of people, the pleasure seekers and the pleasure providers and how their lives cross and interact. Three stories take place in parallel. In first story, two friends come together to brothel but one of them is too shy to select and go with a girl. His friend pushes him to get some experience as first time initiation. Finally he chooses a girl from Mainland China. He enquiries why she has to do such job. Her father died so she needs to support her home. Both are crying. Will she see him again? A girl shall not love her customer. In the second story, a man follow up a young girl to a hotel room. The girl is joining an older woman, who is already with a customer. It is related to initiation of the young girl as a prostitute. She discovers the brutaly of the job but gets some support from the older jaded woman. There is a temporary communion between the man and the two ladies. The jad woman listens to love songs as love is not possible for her and cries. The man brings the young girl home but the wallet is still the transactional basis. In third story, one girl has a rich patron but she is not happy. She finally brings a young guy, making his living by singing songs in the streets, with her. Both of them are drop-outs. She always gives pleasure but this time she receives. In the old days, the Geylang area used to be populated by processing factories for the coconut plantations. These days, the machines are still running at full steam but producing pleasure for those seeking it, night after night. What would happen if the pleasure factory stops and if humans stop being pleasure seeking / giving machines? Due to censure, two minutes were cut.

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