No miracles at Thai filmawards

No miracles at Thai filmawards

Two front-runners fight it out on the night for victory at Thai answer to the Oscars

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
No miracles at Thai filmawards

Dark, twisted films shone at the 21st Subhanahongsa Awards, where ghost drama Laddaland surged past more than 50 Thai films released last year to win six prizes from 14 nominations, including Best Film of the Year, while the best director statuette went to the man who gave the audience a first-rate crime noir.

The closest thing Thailand has to the Oscars (though not close enough), the prestigious Subhanahongsa Awards were announced on Sunday night at Siam Pavalai Theatre, Paragon Cineplex. Prior to the ceremony, guests were treated to the annual eye candy from a parade of Thai film stars who arrived in their best outfits to saunter down the red carpet.

Hosted by The National Federation of Thai Film Association, the 21st Subhanahongsa Awards was held under the theme "Miracle of Thai Films". However, there were really no miracles as most winners were front-runners that had swept awards from other pundits since the award season started earlier this year. Save for a few small surprises, things went pretty much as expected.

The night began with the Lifetime Achievement Award, which went to the 80-year-old actor and director Adul Dulyarat. A banker-turned-actor, Adul has been an important figure in Thai showbiz for 55 years. Adul has garnered much fame and accolades during his long and respectable career before poor health forced him to retire; his long list of roles culminated in 2004 with his memorable performance as court musical master Luang Pradit Phairoh in Thai musical-drama film Hom Rong (The Overture). Appearing on stage with Adul was his other-half, Bussaya Naruemit, the Thai actress who stunned the audience with her ageless beauty.

Adul Dulyarat holding a Subhanahongsa statuette for Lifetime Achievement Award

U Mong Pa Meung (The Outrage), an extravagant existential drama by ML Pundhevanop Devakula bagged the night's first award for Best Visual Effects. The film, which was based on Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon, later won a second trophy for Best Costume Design. There could be no dispute in that regard since the film literally glowed with its elaborate, Lanna-inspired wardrobe.

But the night was essentially a duel between two films: Laddaland, a ghost film by studio GTH and directed by Sophon Sakdapisit, and Fon Tok Kuen Fah (Headshot), a thriller by Pen-ek Ratanaruang. At the box office, Laddaland was already the victor with a staggering 110 million baht revenue, while Pen-ek's film, his most accessible to date, made a paltry 10 million baht.

Coming to the night with 12 nominations, Fon Tok Kuen Fah went home with four awards, including Best Director for Pen-ek and and Best Actor for Nopachai Jayanama. The actor, who's become one of the best in his generation, shaved his head for his role as a policeman-turned-assassin and he was simply head and shoulders above other nominees; unfortunately, Nopachai couldn't make it to the ceremony since he is now filming an upcoming sequel in the King Naresuan franchise. Director Pen-Ek, however, was thrilled with the result and could hardly put together coherent sentences during his acceptance speech. He managed to thank specifically those who helped fund his film, many of whom are film producers from abroad.

Pumpuang (The Moon), the flagship film by Sahamongkol Film International, is a biopic of the legendary Thai country singer Pumpuang Duangchan; the film received eight nominations and won only one for Best Art Direction. The biggest letdown of the night was when the rising star Paowalee Pornpimol didn't win: Paowalee played Pumpuang with verve while her angelic voice was admired by critics and audience alike, and she was much expected to grab the prize for her first-ever nomination. Sadly for young Pornpimol, the award instead went to Piyathida Woramusik, who played a frightened and dutiful mother in Laddaland.

Another surprising moment was during the announcement of Best Supporting Actor and Actress awards. Flamboyant theatre performer Wannasak Sirilar, who played a Buddhist monk in Sop Mai Ngieb (Mindfulness and Murder), a detective thriller about a murder in a Bangkok monastery, was named Best Supporting Actor, beating veteran actor Nirut Sirijanya from Kon Khon and Natthawut Sakitchai from Pumpuang. The young actress from Laddaland, Suthatta Udomsin, won Best Supporting Actress for playing a rebellious teenage daughter and became the youngest winner of the night.

WINNERS OF 21ST SUBHANAHONGSA AWARDS

Best Visual Effects:U Mong Pa Mueng

Best Make-up Effects: Laddaland

Best Costume Design:U Mong Pa Meung

Best Art Direction: Pumpuang

Best Original Score: Kon Khon

Best Original Song:Mun Kong Pen Kwam Rak (30 Kam Lang Jaew )

Best Recording and Sound: Fon Tok Kuen Fah

Best Film Editing: Laddaland

Best Cinematography: Fon Tok Kuen Fah

Best Screenplay: Laddaland

Best Supporting Actress: Suthatta Udomsin (Laddaland )

Best Supporting Actor: Wannasak Sirilar (Sop Mai Ngieb )

Best Actress: Piyathida Woramusik (Laddaland )

Best Actor: Noppachai Chaiyanam (Fon Tok Kuen Fah )

Best Director: Pen-ek Rattanareung (Fon Tok Kuen Fah )

Best Picture: Laddaland

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