This is a film that anyone can enjoy, provided they leave their own cultural bias' by the door. The story in itself is pretty unremarkable... it's a teen love story, and if there's a way to create something unique in the way of plot vehicles for this genre, I'd like to hear it. What this particular film does, in its own sublime way, is reveal so much about the character and culture of the world's most lovable people. Thais are at once childlike and somber. The inhabit a world that is at once filled with mystical notions and aspirations, and also rife with the most petty and spiteful stereotypes and internal racism.
Nam, the protagonist for this film, is characterized as "plain" and "awkward" in the film's beginning. But she's not... she's a quite pretty young girl. What she's really subordinated by is her Thai features and dark complexion. If you've not lived here, you may be entirely unaware of the social status Chinese features and pale skin award people, and how much shame is bestowed on those who look exactly like the indigenous people of this region. The filmmaker is courageous in revealing this less-than-laudable aspect of Thai culture, with Nam's teacher calling her "dark skinned" in the film's opening moments.
In spite of this honesty, the movie also manages to very lovingly portray the universal extremes of a girl's blooming feelings for her first boy crush, but again very Thai in it's portrayal. From Nam's sizable but immediately recognizable friend Cheer, to her celebratory booty shaking dance moment, there is so much here that is uniquely Thai, and very endearing to those of us who love and admire these warm hear- ted people.
Is the movie overly simple in it's plot? Who cares. This isn't a mystery, it's a very very real portrayal of a Thai girl's fantasy of romance. Everything from the single parent household to the female dominated population speaks of Thailand today.
I loved this movie because it didn't try to be American or European, or another Chinese Kung Fu epic.. it's just a great little story about a Thai girl's dreams.
Nam, the protagonist for this film, is characterized as "plain" and "awkward" in the film's beginning. But she's not... she's a quite pretty young girl. What she's really subordinated by is her Thai features and dark complexion. If you've not lived here, you may be entirely unaware of the social status Chinese features and pale skin award people, and how much shame is bestowed on those who look exactly like the indigenous people of this region. The filmmaker is courageous in revealing this less-than-laudable aspect of Thai culture, with Nam's teacher calling her "dark skinned" in the film's opening moments.
In spite of this honesty, the movie also manages to very lovingly portray the universal extremes of a girl's blooming feelings for her first boy crush, but again very Thai in it's portrayal. From Nam's sizable but immediately recognizable friend Cheer, to her celebratory booty shaking dance moment, there is so much here that is uniquely Thai, and very endearing to those of us who love and admire these warm hear- ted people.
Is the movie overly simple in it's plot? Who cares. This isn't a mystery, it's a very very real portrayal of a Thai girl's fantasy of romance. Everything from the single parent household to the female dominated population speaks of Thailand today.
I loved this movie because it didn't try to be American or European, or another Chinese Kung Fu epic.. it's just a great little story about a Thai girl's dreams.