Malaysia's First Gay Film Set for Release

The first gay-themed film in Malaysia has been scheduled for release in February and will likely cause a controversy, reports Reuters. ...Dalam Botol (... In a Bottle) chronicles the relationship between a transsexual Muslim man called Ruby and her male lover, Ghaus.

"This is the first movie in Malaysia about gays," says Wan Raja, who plays Ghaus. "And it's going to get attention because it's something different."

Homosexuality is permitted in Malaysian-produced films only if the characters repent or are killed off, and those characters are usually minor. ...Dalam Botol will set a precedent in the predominantly Muslim country, where sex between two males is a criminal offense.