Baytong (a.k.a.Ok Baytong)
Director: Nonzee Nimibutr
Year: 2003
Starring: Poowarit Poompuang, Jeeranan Manoojam,
Saranya Kruengsai
Time: 107 minutes
Nonzee Nimibutr has been
the modern Godfather of Thai cinema with his contributions as both director
(Dang Bireley and the Young Gangsters, Nang Nak, Jan Dara, Three – The Wheel)
and producer (Tears of the Black Tiger, Bangkok Dangerous). These films have
helped bring Thai cinema to the attention of the world and fostered a film
environment that has allowed new filmmakers to go in exciting inventive directions
that have kick started the industry. Thai cinema is still filled with large
amounts of banal commercial works, but with directors like Thanit Jitnukul
(Bang Rajan), Wisit Sasanatieng (Tears of the Black Tiger), Pimpaka Towira
(One Night Husband), Pen-ek Ratanaruang (6ixtynin9, Monrak Transistor, Last
Life in the Universe) and of course the Pang Brothers (Bangkok Dangerous,
The Eye) there are some tremendous films coming out of Thailand and the future
looks bright. Baytong is a wonderful addition to this body of work.
Unlike Nimibutr’s previous
work, Baytong is nearly devoid of flashy stylization and lush sensual surroundings
- it is very basic and simple and becomes all the more powerful for being
so. It is a heartfelt if very subtle plea for peace and understanding in
these very sad times. Like much of the current world Thailand has also been
affected by Islamic disaffection and has been the target of terrorist attacks.
Though much of the film does not revolve directly around this issue, it is
the igniter of the story and the moral backbone of the message – one of religious
and cultural diversity and tolerance.
When Tum learns that a
terrorist bomb on a train has killed his sister, he takes a leave from his
cloistered duties as a monk to go home for her funeral. This is in Baytong,
at the very southern tip of Thailand bordering on Malaysia where the Muslim
influence is very strong. It is a small but busy town where as one character
tells Tum “if you haven’t had a bird shit on your head, you have never been
to Baytong”. He meets his sister’s five-year-old daughter (Saranya Kruengsai)
and an affectionate bond begins to grow between them – to the point where
he decides to give up his robes and leave the temple to care for her upbringing.
Completely unworldly in
his ways and knowledge of everyday things, Tum has to humorously deal with
learning to ride a bike, cell phones, alcohol, erections, zippers . . . and
pain. A major Buddhist tenet is to rid yourself of desire and in his old
world where there were so few temptations that was a simple thing for Tum,
but in this new life where there are so few limitations, he discovers that
he has needs – for love from his niece and from a woman (Jeeranan Manoojam)
he meets. And this brings an unknown mysterious pain that is all the more
excruciating for being so unexpected - and he has to look deep inside him
and connect with his beliefs to move on.
The film is told in almost
leisurely fashion – small scenes that begin to add up to something very whole
and surprisingly emotional. Much of it is slice of life with a real sense
of living in a small Thai city that is nicely captured by the photography
and pacing of the film. Though Poowarit Poompuang as Tum displays very few
moments of heightened emotion and plays much of the film in straight-faced
puzzlement, it is absolutely perfect for his character and the viewer feels
like he is seeing the world anew through his eyes. In a world that seems
to be brimming with so much hatred for different cultures and beliefs, this
simple ode to humanity and forgiveness is a refreshing and needed reminder
that we are all in this together.
My rating for this film:
8.0