Once in a while comes a film that defies public expectation, rejuvenates the audience’s excitement, and stands out from the rest of the genre. Today, that film is Muay Thai Chaiya, the first solo directorial effort from veteran screenwriter Kongkiat Komesiri who proves that a martial arts flick can have more than action. It can be sweetly romantic and sentimentally dramatic as well.
Muay Thai Chaiya tells a story about friendship and sacrifice, honor and redemption, and choices people make in their lives. Piak (Akara Amarttayakul), Pao (Thawatchai Penpakdee), and Samor (Sonthaya Chitmanee) are three childhood friends from southern Thailand who share a love for the Chaiya school of Muay Thai and every boxer’s dream of fighting at the Ratchadamnoen stadium in Bangkok . As soon as they come of age, they travel to the capital to pursue their dreams. Unfortunately for Piak, his arrogance and hot temper cost him his rising career, and he and Samor turn to an underground boxing world where they fight illegal bouts and work as hitmen for easy money. Pao, however, trains hard and fights hard but his sheer bad luck lands him in a match that, unbeknownst to him, pits him against the ruthless gangsters for whom Piak and Samor have been working.
As expected of a martial arts film, Muay Thai Chaiya delivers plenty of flying fists and brutal bullets. And, its tight choreography and fast-paced editing further intensify the excitement of every action sequence. But, drama movie fans will also be able to enjoy the film's many rich relationship stories: friends who make big sacrifices for one another, lovers who forgive each other’s mistakes, father who raises his sons to be good, and pupils who pay homage to their teachers. In a clever writing, these elements come together and culminate in the film’s climax battle in which both Piak and Pao finally fulfill their dreams of fighting at Ratchadamnoen but each does so in his own way for different purposes.
Acting is impressive across the board, and I take my hat off to lead actors Akara and Thawatchai who put in 150% of their effort preparing for their roles and performing their own stunts in the film. They give solid performances that manage to make the audience forget their images as fashion models. A special mention also goes to Sonthaya. Not surprisingly, both Akara and Sonthaya have grasped the majority of best actor and supporting actor awards last year.
However, some relationships suffer from underdevelopment. The spotlight shines a bit too excessively on the protagonist Piak. Quick editing shifts the film rather too hastily in and out of subplots. Nevertheless, Muay Thai Chaiya is still a highly enjoyable film. Unlike recent Thai martial arts movies that offer excessive action but little emotions, Muay Thai Chaiya boasts not only exhilarating adrenaline rushes but also a romantic story and a satisfying relationship drama that can leave the audience both in tears and at the edge of their seats rooting for their favorite characters. This film is certainly not to be missed.
Sorradithep Supachanya