I am normally not a fan of romance stories. It's deluded and fantastical that it raises the viewers' expectations for their own sweet and happy ending. It's a pessimistic point of view but that's the reality I've seen so far, I'm used to it.
Rak Hang Siam (The Love of Siam), a Thai film by Chookiat Sakveerakul, tells an amazing story that cross cultural differences, and this maybe the prime reason why the movie is amazing.
Despite it being located in Bangkok, familiar food, traditions and even localities makes it transcendent towards a broader audience, especially in the Philippines. It feels like a Filipino film without overacting and overrated actors doing their own dramatic sequences. This movie is grounded in subtlety and silent epiphanies, which we never do.
At 2 hours and 59 minutes (Director's Cut) and 2 hours 30 minutes (DVD release), the movie tells about a story about neighbors Mew (Witwisit Hiranyawongkul) and Tong (Mario Maurer) who are separated after the loss of the latter's sister, Tang (Chermarn Boonyasak). Five years later, they cross paths in a commercial district named Siam Square. This district becomes a meeting point between all the main characters. Even in that length of a movie, it's justifiable for its capability of developing the characters involved.
The movie's cinematography is its weak point. Chookiat may be used to horror and thriller films that it sometimes shown within the film, but it's unnoticeable at first. Some metaphors he used could've been better shown in a horror film. Scenes mostly alternate between schools, rooms, studio and Siam Square. It may be that way to express the universality of this film. Product placements are subtle and funny but it fits within the film, iMacs and Pepsi Max mostly.
The cast is amazing. Young Mew and Tong closely resemble the older counterparts while still making Tang and their mother Sunee (Sinjai Plengpanich) look like they are related. Tong's father, Korn (Songsit Rungnopakunsri) looks like a man on the verge of alcoholism. The acting of each character is remarkable. Sinjai, most of all, played an extremely broken woman but still manages to keep her family intact. Witwisit and Mario had noticeable chemistry while still keeping it subtle. I sometimes think that they may be playing characters too young for them. But age was never stated so I forgo the suspicion. The character development is the movie's highest point.
The music is why I watch it repeatedly. As one of the characters are musically inclined, the melodies involved in this movie should be amazing, which I think it is. The movie delivers the music as part of the movie, but not as to intrude the realism. It's not a musical yet, the feelings of the characters are said thru music. Ticket (Day Trip) by Chookiat Sakveerakul & August Band is the arguably the best track of the movie and the OST, followed closely by Gun Lae Gun กันและกัน (Acoustic) sung by Witwisit during the movie but not available in the album. I may not understand the lyrics but the melody itself is enough to make me listen more.
Rak Hang Siam proved itself as an effective film that tells the story of the reality of love. Situations maybe different, but the main point is there. There's always the meeting and a separation, no matter what kind love exist between them.
Rak Hang Siam (The Love of Siam), a Thai film by Chookiat Sakveerakul, tells an amazing story that cross cultural differences, and this maybe the prime reason why the movie is amazing.
Despite it being located in Bangkok, familiar food, traditions and even localities makes it transcendent towards a broader audience, especially in the Philippines. It feels like a Filipino film without overacting and overrated actors doing their own dramatic sequences. This movie is grounded in subtlety and silent epiphanies, which we never do.
At 2 hours and 59 minutes (Director's Cut) and 2 hours 30 minutes (DVD release), the movie tells about a story about neighbors Mew (Witwisit Hiranyawongkul) and Tong (Mario Maurer) who are separated after the loss of the latter's sister, Tang (Chermarn Boonyasak). Five years later, they cross paths in a commercial district named Siam Square. This district becomes a meeting point between all the main characters. Even in that length of a movie, it's justifiable for its capability of developing the characters involved.
The movie's cinematography is its weak point. Chookiat may be used to horror and thriller films that it sometimes shown within the film, but it's unnoticeable at first. Some metaphors he used could've been better shown in a horror film. Scenes mostly alternate between schools, rooms, studio and Siam Square. It may be that way to express the universality of this film. Product placements are subtle and funny but it fits within the film, iMacs and Pepsi Max mostly.
The cast is amazing. Young Mew and Tong closely resemble the older counterparts while still making Tang and their mother Sunee (Sinjai Plengpanich) look like they are related. Tong's father, Korn (Songsit Rungnopakunsri) looks like a man on the verge of alcoholism. The acting of each character is remarkable. Sinjai, most of all, played an extremely broken woman but still manages to keep her family intact. Witwisit and Mario had noticeable chemistry while still keeping it subtle. I sometimes think that they may be playing characters too young for them. But age was never stated so I forgo the suspicion. The character development is the movie's highest point.
The music is why I watch it repeatedly. As one of the characters are musically inclined, the melodies involved in this movie should be amazing, which I think it is. The movie delivers the music as part of the movie, but not as to intrude the realism. It's not a musical yet, the feelings of the characters are said thru music. Ticket (Day Trip) by Chookiat Sakveerakul & August Band is the arguably the best track of the movie and the OST, followed closely by Gun Lae Gun กันและกัน (Acoustic) sung by Witwisit during the movie but not available in the album. I may not understand the lyrics but the melody itself is enough to make me listen more.
Rak Hang Siam proved itself as an effective film that tells the story of the reality of love. Situations maybe different, but the main point is there. There's always the meeting and a separation, no matter what kind love exist between them.