Short film that stays true so we can all relate with Pete's lonesome journey to find purpose. Bank Tangjaitrong got perfect cinematography to define Bangkok's day and night. Characters were seemingly real and both leads shared nice chemistry.
3 Reviews
A surprise hit I didnt know I needed
modelsocietyasia25 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
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HomeBlog"SONGKRAN" Movie review
"SONGKRAN" Movie review
DATE: 25 FEBRUARY 2021
"SONGKRAN" Movie review
Good independent films are hard to come by in the Southeast Asian market. Often littered with overacting, poor production values and over the top sappy love triangles, one doesn't simply choose to watch a Southeast Asian indie film when one can just turn on Netflix. But there's always a first.
I'm going to skip the synopsis here and instead encourage you to watch it for yourself. At a mere 27 minutes, it'll be over before your coffee gets cold.
Headlining the film is newcomer Danny Lee, who delivers a strong performance despite his inexperience. His quiet, introspective Pete is the discontent everyman; woefully unsatisfied and yearning for something better, even if he doesn't quite know what it is. Lee delivers his lines with confidence; casually flowing from one scene to the next, as his character gets lost both literally and figuratively. It's hard to portray a somber lost soul when you look like a Calvin Klein model, but Lee tackles it well. The film hints at a broader backstory for Pete, and the circumstances surrounding him, his comically rude boss, and why his work as a salesman has taken a nosedive. Director Bank Tangjaitrong frames Pete's life as a slow, isolated journey of a man who despite traveling all year round, really has no final destination. Lee's costar on the other hand, chews up the scenery with every breath. Mai is a free soul; a hippie trapped in a (SPOILER ALERT) body of a woman bound to the ol' ball and chain. Veteran actress Chantima Chumma brings a playful bravado to her role, a polar opposite to Lee's character. She's bright, friendly, and just the sort of persona you'd expect to meet in an artisan café in the heart of Bangkok, even If her character, Mai, looks like she too appeared in the same Calvin Klein ad. But SONGKRAN is more than just two pretty characters frolicking in a concrete meadow. It's the story of two souls, one looking for a reprieve from a nomadic life, while the other yearning for what could have been. The story doesn't dive much into Mai's backstory save for a blink or miss conversation. I would have liked to have seen more of her motivations, and why she failed to mention during their night together that she was ( SPOILER ) married with a child. But this is Pete's story, and in that regard, it comes to a satisfying, albeit slightly sad conclusion.
The chemistry between the two leads is apparent, and it's that weight that anchors and give gravitas to the somewhat hit or miss dialogue. There wasn't anything particularly off putting about it per se, but when you've come off watching Trey Edward Schult's WAVES, you can't help but compare, subconsciously, to everything you see after it. A bit unfair? Perhaps. The story itself somewhat predictable, but that's okay. The real journey is the relationship between Pete and Mai, and the one night they spend together as strangers.
The real kicker is the cinematography. It's exceptionally rare to see Bangkok presented in such modernity and polish, unlike the rat infested, sweaty and overly orange city Hollywood thinks we live in. From sparkling vistas of the Bangkok night sky during the beautiful rooftop scene, to the colorful hues of the bar where Mai and Pete have their first drink, SONGKRAN is a joy to watch. There are no lens flares, gratuitous neons nor pretentious track shots that look great but serve no purpose to the story. SONGKRAN's cinematography is calm, masterfully lit and thoughtfully crafted.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching SONGKRAN and found myself wanting more. It managed to magically extend its 27 minute runtime to what seemed like an hour, but in a good way. K. Tangjaitrong and co. have elevated Thai indie films to new heights and have turned me into a fan. It's the Garden State of Thai indies. There, I said it. Now let's turn the two leads into bonafide stars, shall we?
HomeBlog"SONGKRAN" Movie review
"SONGKRAN" Movie review
DATE: 25 FEBRUARY 2021
"SONGKRAN" Movie review
Good independent films are hard to come by in the Southeast Asian market. Often littered with overacting, poor production values and over the top sappy love triangles, one doesn't simply choose to watch a Southeast Asian indie film when one can just turn on Netflix. But there's always a first.
I'm going to skip the synopsis here and instead encourage you to watch it for yourself. At a mere 27 minutes, it'll be over before your coffee gets cold.
Headlining the film is newcomer Danny Lee, who delivers a strong performance despite his inexperience. His quiet, introspective Pete is the discontent everyman; woefully unsatisfied and yearning for something better, even if he doesn't quite know what it is. Lee delivers his lines with confidence; casually flowing from one scene to the next, as his character gets lost both literally and figuratively. It's hard to portray a somber lost soul when you look like a Calvin Klein model, but Lee tackles it well. The film hints at a broader backstory for Pete, and the circumstances surrounding him, his comically rude boss, and why his work as a salesman has taken a nosedive. Director Bank Tangjaitrong frames Pete's life as a slow, isolated journey of a man who despite traveling all year round, really has no final destination. Lee's costar on the other hand, chews up the scenery with every breath. Mai is a free soul; a hippie trapped in a (SPOILER ALERT) body of a woman bound to the ol' ball and chain. Veteran actress Chantima Chumma brings a playful bravado to her role, a polar opposite to Lee's character. She's bright, friendly, and just the sort of persona you'd expect to meet in an artisan café in the heart of Bangkok, even If her character, Mai, looks like she too appeared in the same Calvin Klein ad. But SONGKRAN is more than just two pretty characters frolicking in a concrete meadow. It's the story of two souls, one looking for a reprieve from a nomadic life, while the other yearning for what could have been. The story doesn't dive much into Mai's backstory save for a blink or miss conversation. I would have liked to have seen more of her motivations, and why she failed to mention during their night together that she was ( SPOILER ) married with a child. But this is Pete's story, and in that regard, it comes to a satisfying, albeit slightly sad conclusion.
The chemistry between the two leads is apparent, and it's that weight that anchors and give gravitas to the somewhat hit or miss dialogue. There wasn't anything particularly off putting about it per se, but when you've come off watching Trey Edward Schult's WAVES, you can't help but compare, subconsciously, to everything you see after it. A bit unfair? Perhaps. The story itself somewhat predictable, but that's okay. The real journey is the relationship between Pete and Mai, and the one night they spend together as strangers.
The real kicker is the cinematography. It's exceptionally rare to see Bangkok presented in such modernity and polish, unlike the rat infested, sweaty and overly orange city Hollywood thinks we live in. From sparkling vistas of the Bangkok night sky during the beautiful rooftop scene, to the colorful hues of the bar where Mai and Pete have their first drink, SONGKRAN is a joy to watch. There are no lens flares, gratuitous neons nor pretentious track shots that look great but serve no purpose to the story. SONGKRAN's cinematography is calm, masterfully lit and thoughtfully crafted.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching SONGKRAN and found myself wanting more. It managed to magically extend its 27 minute runtime to what seemed like an hour, but in a good way. K. Tangjaitrong and co. have elevated Thai indie films to new heights and have turned me into a fan. It's the Garden State of Thai indies. There, I said it. Now let's turn the two leads into bonafide stars, shall we?
beautiful
Kirpianuscus27 May 2021
It is just an inspired mix of flavors of spring, summer morning light and fall evening burned leaves. It is beautiful for its simplicity, sketch of love story, sketch of work as. Salesman for acting an for emotions. Not great ambitions but a beautiful result.
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