THAI MOVIE

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Ruffians attack a bus and put fire into it. Hopefully military can help on time but some passengers die. Who was behind the ruffians? A local villager Chat is having financial difficulties. Nemana and Data, owners of the local sawmills, lend money to poor people with high interest. Chat bought a truck. He is close friend with Tai (Sombat Methanee), who is a village scout (ลูกเสือชาวบ้าน). The Village scouts was a right-wing group sponsored by the King and Queen of Thailand to promote national unity in 1970s. Villagers are helping each other. Due to debts (หนี้) Chat needs to give his rice fresh crop to Nemana. Poor (จน) people just work for the rich! Nemana gives him back the truck against his wife’s rice fields guarantee and allows him to cut trees in forest. He befriends with Prachan, who is Nemana’s close associate. Despite Nemana's promise, some other ruffians try to catch Chat so he has to fight back for his life. As he shots two men, he has to flee to Bangkok. They lie to him as the ruffians are not dead. He is driving a taxi in Bangkok. He gets framed by Prachan who puts drugs in his car (เล่นละคร) in order to increase Chat’s dependence to him as Chat needs to pay back his gratitude. He accepts to join their team. Nuan and Tai marry. Chat, due to easy money and lust, forgets his pregnant wife Bua (กรุงเทพสวรรค์คนมี นรกคนจน, คนลืมตัว). Back to the village Chat complains about the corruption of officials and how to benefit from it! Tai wishes to fight against this corruption that is bad for the country, fight against the bad parliament members. Tai and Chat disagree so fight (คนโทรยศแผ่นดิน). Nemana and Tai have a disagreement regarding rice selling. Tai pushes his democratic concept as villagers can sell to anybody (สหาย). It is democracy versus communism. Nemana proposes to share power and influence (แบ่งอำนาจ). As Tai refuses, they kidnap Nuan, his wife, who is teacher in order to force Tai to join them. Tai refuses their ultimatum and decides to act at nighttime. Faced to a Buddha statue, Tai prays in front of the Thai King and Queen pictures. Thai Buddhism, the monarchy and the nation were high symbols against Communism in 1970s. Patriotic songs are played in the background (รักชาติ). Tai has to use a floating wing similar to a hang-glider to enter silently their camp. He succeeds to release Nuan but they are captured while trying to escape from the camp. Chat's mother dies on a mine while trying to convince her son (คนขายชาติ) to release Tai. Through his treachery he loses his mother (สร้างกรรม). He changes side so frees Tai and Nuan. Chat dies while holding the Thai flag. Tai takes over the Thai flag. Meanwhile villagers holding Thai flags and singing patriotic songs go towards the camp. Thai army is joining them. The ruffians are defeated and some of them injured or killed. Through high compassion, soldiers give help and priority to treat them. Tai successfully removes the red (communist) flag and replaces it by the Thai flag generating cheers and dances. The song “Nak Phaendin” was released in 1975. It is was a patriotic song (เพลงปลุกใจ) against the communist influence (คอมมิวนิสต์). During 1975-1980 years, Thailand was surrounded by Communist countries (Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam) and was at high risk to fall also. This movie from an historical point of view shows nicely this trouble period and how the government propaganda was done.

ThaiWorldView film database contains 1523 movies.

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