By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.5 cats
Director: Aditya Assarat
Starring: Anchalee Saisoontorn | Supphasit Kansen
Country: thailand
Year: 2008
Running time: 92
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1135992/
Bruce says: “**SPOILERS**
“WONDERFUL TOWN is a good example of a film well-executed but ill-conceived. I may be partially at fault for not properly managing my expectations but WONDERFUL TOWN takes an unforeseen turn that I find unforgiving.
“Ton is an architect who monitors construction sites. He accepts an assignment that no one else wants in a small town in southern Thailand, a town decimated by the historic tsunami of 2004. When he arrives he finds a hotel that is acceptable and checks in. There is an admitted eeriness to the place but that is largely due to the fact that Ton appears to be the only guest and the only employee seems to be Na, the desk clerk. There is an abandoned building next to the construction site that is fenced off. Ton frequently wanders through it when he gets bored during the day.
“Ton seems interested in Na from the very beginning but she maintains a diffident air. Na’s demeanor is a result of her shyness, not an indication of aloofness. It is not until we see her caressing Ton’s sheets as she makes the bed that we realize she cares for him as much as he likes her. Ton asks Na to join him for walks, meals, drives and initially she rejects his every move. Finally, she breaks down. A gentle relationship begins.
“Somewhere along the way we learn that Na has a brother who lives nearby. Eventually we learn that he is some sort of gang leader. Although he seems to care for his sister he cannot control his urges to wreak havoc. As Ton and Na drive around the local area a motorcycle gang offers a menacing presence. The gang vanishes from sight and it is not difficult to perceive that they are portending what is to come.
“My confusion lies in the discovering that I was not viewing a character driven story about emerging love in uneasy times as appeared to be the case but a modernist tale of horror and violence that is unpredictable and unexplained.
“Aditya Assarat wrote and directed the film. Both talents seem promising ones. Hopefully Assarat will not play ‘fool the audience’ next time around. 2.5 cats
“WONDERFUL TOWN screened at the 2008 New Directors/New Films co-sponsored by MOMA and The Film Society of Lincoln Center.”