European Premiere
The Con-Heartist
อ้ายคนหล่อลวง (Aii-Con-Lor-Luang)
Thailand, 2020, 128’, Thai
Directed by: Mez Tharatorn
Script: Mez Tharatorn, Thodsapon Thiptinnakorn, Pattaranad Bhiboonsawade
Photography (color): Chaiyapruek Chalermpornpanit
Editing: Panayu Kunvanlee
Music Composer: Vichaya Vatanasapt
Music Score: Hualampong Riddim
Production Designer: Patchara Lertkai
Producers: Jira Maligool, Vanridee Pongsittisak
Executive Producers: Jina Osothsilp, Boosaba Daorueng, Paiboon Damrongchaitham
Cast: Nadech Kugimiya, Pimchanok Luevisadpaibul, Thiti Mahayotaruk, Kathaleeya McIntosh, Pongsatorn Jongwilas
Date of First Release in Territory: December 3rd, 2020
Known as one of Thailand’s romantic comedy champions whose works always gained box office success, director Mez Tharatorn crafted his fourth feature with colourful mise-en-scene, good performance, and smart tricks and plots that play around the gangs of Thai-style con artists.
A young financial staff Ina (Pimchanok Luevisadpaibul) is tricked by a con artist Tower (Nadech Kugimiya) who tries to lure her to transfer him an amount of money. The plan fails and Ina blackmails Tower into helping her to take revenge against her ex-boyfriend who borrowed a big amount of money; she wants Tower to lure him to return that money. In the cat-and-mouse game, Tower and Ina develop a feeling and a relation from tricks and no trust to a heartwarming end.
The most outstanding part of the film is tributed to the performances of all the lead performers who smartly change their former images as nice cool-looking guy and lady into a gang of con artists, especially Nadech Kugimiya and Kathaleeya McIntosh who play as Tower and Nongnuch – a teacher who enters the game by coincidence. Other performers also fill up the space with their little chameleon-like acting so that everybody helps one another to make the film’s atmosphere into a movie of fun and entertainment. They act out their tricks and games like professional gangs in reality.
Most importantly is the colourful mise-en-scene that brushes up the tone of the movie into a lively space where this gang of con artists try to construct. Director Tharatorn knows how to make the film more fun by elaborating with concise editing and plotting, the gags and jokes that are not seen and heard before. At the same time, he still does not forget to fill up the scene of laughters with some little romances between the two leads. As ever, The Con-Heartist still maintains GDH’s brand as a producer of feel-good flicks that audience will return home with smiles.
Mez Tharatorn
Mez Tharatorn started off as a screenplay writer for several movies for GTH with such titles as romantic comedy The Possible (2006), and horror 4 Bia (2008) and Phobia 2 (2009). He began his co-directorial debut with a veteran director Vithaya Thongyuyong for The Little Comedian (2010). Tharatorn started his solo directorial debuts in 2012 and 2014 with romantic comedy ATM and I Fine..Thank You..Love You, both of which became the top five blockbusters of the year.
FILMOGRAFIA SELEZIONATA / SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY
2010 – The Little Comedian (co-director)
2012 – ATM
2014 – I Fine..Thank You..Love You
2020 – The Con-Heartist