Thailand
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Page creation 20/09/2010
All rights reserved DSinAsia 2006-2012, except otherwise indicated
This is a typical lakorn (Thai soap-opera), with many nice girls and a few nasty ones, lots of
talking, fighting and crying, made up of no less than 15 installments totaling no less than 22
hours and a half (yes, I watched them all, but fast-forward !). It was shot in 2008 by the
multi-talented Pongpat Wachirabunjong, also an actor and a singer, almost exclusively in
Phuket's old town and in one of its aristocratic villas, locally known as "Aung Mo Lao". The
story revolves around the cute Khom Roongprai ("Taew" Nataporn Temeerak, above left) and
the handsome Chatsiam Surabodin ("Mart" Kritsada Pornveroj, above right).
talking, fighting and crying, made up of no less than 15 installments totaling no less than 22
hours and a half (yes, I watched them all, but fast-forward !). It was shot in 2008 by the
multi-talented Pongpat Wachirabunjong, also an actor and a singer, almost exclusively in
Phuket's old town and in one of its aristocratic villas, locally known as "Aung Mo Lao". The
story revolves around the cute Khom Roongprai ("Taew" Nataporn Temeerak, above left) and
the handsome Chatsiam Surabodin ("Mart" Kritsada Pornveroj, above right).
So here we go. Here is a view of Phuket's Old
Town, with its distinctive Sino-Portuguese
architecture. The story is set in the '60s, which
explains the nice old cars slowing passing by
every now and then.
Town, with its distinctive Sino-Portuguese
architecture. The story is set in the '60s, which
explains the nice old cars slowing passing by
every now and then.
Chatsiam having stayed in Europe for a
while, it is only natural that he chooses to
drive a European car when he returns to his
home country. He decides to visit the
fatherless young girl he had agreed to
sponsor, in the gorgeous villa where she
stays with her blue-blood host family (I mean,
something along these lines, I did not quite
grasp all the nuances).
while, it is only natural that he chooses to
drive a European car when he returns to his
home country. He decides to visit the
fatherless young girl he had agreed to
sponsor, in the gorgeous villa where she
stays with her blue-blood host family (I mean,
something along these lines, I did not quite
grasp all the nuances).
The very same car has been used for another movie, aired on Thai TV in 2009, and again
shot in Phuket, called "Dong Poo Dee" ("Blue blood territory"). Here again the car features
prominently, being driven by the hero himself.
shot in Phuket, called "Dong Poo Dee" ("Blue blood territory"). Here again the car features
prominently, being driven by the hero himself.
The girl has grown into a cute young lady in
the meantime, and he decides to take her
downtown for shopping and a stop at the
ice-cream parlour. But the villa's master's
young wife asks if she can join.
the meantime, and he decides to take her
downtown for shopping and a stop at the
ice-cream parlour. But the villa's master's
young wife asks if she can join.
Kind Chatsiam agrees, of course, and the trio
arrives downtown.
arrives downtown.
The young wife exits the car and thanks
Chatsiam for the ride. She goes at great
lengths all along the movie to show how
naughty she is, and she eventually finds a
horrible end (suspense, suspense !). On the
contrary, the hero keeps cool and kind all
along the fifteen episodes, to the point that he
gives a rather dull impression of himself if you
want my opinion.
Chatsiam for the ride. She goes at great
lengths all along the movie to show how
naughty she is, and she eventually finds a
horrible end (suspense, suspense !). On the
contrary, the hero keeps cool and kind all
along the fifteen episodes, to the point that he
gives a rather dull impression of himself if you
want my opinion.
Back to the villa. The plate number is of an
old type of course, along with the scenario
requirements, and it shows a Bangkok
registration.
old type of course, along with the scenario
requirements, and it shows a Bangkok
registration.
Naughty young wife does all she can to look
nice and naive to the hero, but we are not
duped ! Not so easy a role when you think
about it. I found myself watching (yes,
fast-forward), and almost wanting to shout to
the hero "Hey Chatsiam open your eyes !
She's lying !".
nice and naive to the hero, but we are not
duped ! Not so easy a role when you think
about it. I found myself watching (yes,
fast-forward), and almost wanting to shout to
the hero "Hey Chatsiam open your eyes !
She's lying !".
A wai (the Thai greeting) before driving off.
Ladies first.
Actor Kritsada actually drives the car by
himself in a couple of scenes. How lucky.
himself in a couple of scenes. How lucky.
A rendez-vous in Phuket. The Benz looks
nice (too), but the car behind the DS,
obviously a much later model, definitely
clashes.
nice (too), but the car behind the DS,
obviously a much later model, definitely
clashes.
Off we go, with the beautiful background of
old Phuket town's main street (Thaland Road)
and a gorgeous sky.
old Phuket town's main street (Thaland Road)
and a gorgeous sky.
I don't want to spoil the ending, so you won't
know the awful fate of Naughty Young Wife;
the two heroes' fate is much more on the
bright side, but you will have guessed it.
For the amateurs, more about this lakorn
here (English):
The whole drama is available on Youtube,
check out for example this extract (thai):
know the awful fate of Naughty Young Wife;
the two heroes' fate is much more on the
bright side, but you will have guessed it.
For the amateurs, more about this lakorn
here (English):
The whole drama is available on Youtube,
check out for example this extract (thai):
Now what about the car itself, undoubtedly a local star since it appeared in these two movies
shot in Phuket ? In April, 2010, I could locate it at last.
shot in Phuket ? In April, 2010, I could locate it at last.
It belongs to Khun
Suchon, a veterinarian
who collects classic
cars. He owns about a
dozen of them, mostly
Mercedes, parked in the
back of a restaurant he
also owns in the Phuket
town area.
When the lakorn
production staff came to
check out his collection,
he accepted to lend the
Citroen, but he says he
regrets it now: they did
not take good care of it,
and the little
compensation he
received for the shooting
did not cover the cost of
the repairs that had to be
made later...
The car, which changed
body colours after its two
movie appearances,
was bought in Bangkok
years ago by Khun
Suchon, who also had it
restored by a specialist
there. He owns a second
DS, now under
restoration.
Suchon, a veterinarian
who collects classic
cars. He owns about a
dozen of them, mostly
Mercedes, parked in the
back of a restaurant he
also owns in the Phuket
town area.
When the lakorn
production staff came to
check out his collection,
he accepted to lend the
Citroen, but he says he
regrets it now: they did
not take good care of it,
and the little
compensation he
received for the shooting
did not cover the cost of
the repairs that had to be
made later...
The car, which changed
body colours after its two
movie appearances,
was bought in Bangkok
years ago by Khun
Suchon, who also had it
restored by a specialist
there. He owns a second
DS, now under
restoration.
Khun Suchon claims it is a 1957 ID19. But the identification plate indicates a 1960
production, which is matching with the car's characteristics. It is anyway one of the oldest
surviving DS in Asia, and in Thailand for that matter.
production, which is matching with the car's characteristics. It is anyway one of the oldest
surviving DS in Asia, and in Thailand for that matter.
Most original details of an early
ID19 are there; and although the
extra front and rear lights are not
exactly necessary, it is good to
see that it has been restored and
well maintained. As a matter of
fact, Khun Suchon regularly takes
it around town.
ID19 are there; and although the
extra front and rear lights are not
exactly necessary, it is good to
see that it has been restored and
well maintained. As a matter of
fact, Khun Suchon regularly takes
it around town.