Movie: Letters to my diary

[webfact]

Letters to my diary
PARINYAPORN PAJEE
THE NATION
CHIANG MAI



The new romantic comedy from GTH looks at communication without the benefits of the social networks.

BANGKOK: -- Somewhat outdated in this era of social networking where we tend to share even the most inconsequential details of our daily lives on the social networks, the intimate journal has all but disappeared from everyday life. Instant communication is great, says director Nithiwat Tharatorn, who admits he couldn't live without it, but he also feels that the "immediacy" we enjoy today is depleting our ability to express deeper and heartfelt emotions.

Nithiwat recalls the intimacy of the diary in GTH's first release of the season "Khid Thueng Vittaya" ("Teacher's Diary") showing how written pages can do more than just provide a record but also foster love.

The film, which is scheduled for release in March, stars Sukrit "Bie" Visetkaew as Song, a former wrestler who takes a job as a teacher. He arrives at his new classroom, a remote houseboat cut off from such conveniences of the outside world as electricity, Internet and mobile phone signal. Lonely and occasionally frustrated by having just four students, he discovers the diary of his predecessor Ann (Chermarn "Ploy" Boonyasak) and the diary becomes his friend as he tries to overcome the loneliness and hardships of his new posting. When he leaves the houseboat and Ann returns, she discovers that Song has also written in the diary.

The tale is loosely based on the true-life story of GTH producer Jira Maligool's friend, who discovered a diary in his desk drawer on starting a new job and started searching for its owner.

"This was decades ago, in the days when we only had landlines. The two eventually got married and still have a happy family life" says Jira.

The houseboat location also takes its cue from real life, being loosely modelled on a school in Lamphun province where a teacher lives with his four students on a boat. Producer Wanrudee Pongsitthisak mentioned it to Jira, who headed north to speak to the real life teacher Samart Sutha.

"It's very inspiring and I was really moved by his dedication to his work and his students," says Jira.

For his part, Nithiwat spent time researching whether it was actually possible in this day and age for two strangers to fall in love just by reading a diary.

"I know a relationship can start from the impressions gained during conversation and getting a picture of how the other person sees the world and I guess that, at least in the past, that sort of information could be acquired by reading the private thoughts in a diary.

"Today, a diary is somewhat akin to what we show on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. The main difference is that with social networking, people can also see what you look like," he says.

"The disadvantage is that instead on talking one-on-one or calling, we opt to communicate through text."

The film, he adds, invokes nostalgia for the feeling of missing someone in an era where everyone can be reached in seconds.

"I hope that after seeing the film some people out there might wean themselves off the social networks and experience what it feels like to miss a lover or a friend," he says.

The first trailer for "Teacher's Diary" was screened last week at a press conference in Chiang Mai and it was immediately obvious that the new film carries more comedy than any of the director's previous works.

"That's something that comes from Bie. He's always cracking jokes to make people laugh so I asked him to bring some parts of his own personality to Song's character," he says.

Nithiwat, who cast new and untried actors in his subtle teenage romance "Seasons Change" and "Dear Galileo", the coming-of-age drama about two young women on a road trip in Europe, adds that he also enjoyed working with established stars.

"The directing is very different. With my other films, I had to guide and instruct the young actors in what I wanted. Professionals like Bie and Ploy, on the other hand, know what will work."

Bie, who is a long-time fan of GTH's movies, accepted the role immediately, script unseen.

"I said yes without even knowing what the story was about. I've waited so long for this chance" he says.

Bie's character Song is a bit of loser, someone who opts to spend his life doing things that rarely interest others, like wrestling and teaching at a remote school.

The enormous differences in the actors' professional paths - Bie has focused on singing and playing in musicals while Ploy is popular both on the small and large screen - helps add credibility to the story.

"They had never met before working on the film, which made them perfect for two characters who only know each other through a diary," says Nithiwat.

While the press conference was held in the North, the film was shot at the other end of the country - in Phetchaburi province, on the lake in Kaeng Krachan National Park.

"But the film set was every bit as remote. We didn't have electricity or communication with the outside world," the director says.

After School

"Khid Thueng Vittaya" ("Teacher's Diary") opens in cinemas on March 20.


-- The Nation 2014-01-28

[robertthebruce]

As much as i think ''Thai T.V.'' is not the best, I do enjoy ''Thai Films''

Also, the Main Actress ''Ploy'' is a stunner, and not bad at Acting too..

Shall definetly go to see this film...

[Tywais]

Also, the Main Actress ''Ploy'' is a stunner, and not bad at Acting too..