WONDERFUL TOWN

Thailand, 2007, 92 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Aditya Assarat

Wonderful Town seems to be like a romantic Thai movie, a focus on two people in a town hit by the tsunami of 2004. The town has become rather deserted with developments being made on the devastated waterfront. A young woman runs a hotel in the town. An architect comes to stay with her, wanting quiet. They fall in love.

However, there is a brutal ending which seems unnecessarily cruel, given the style of the film up to this point.

1. A Thai romance, drama? Its ultimate effect?

2. The town and the after effect of the tsunami, the destruction, the rebuilding, the coast, the lack of tourists, small number of visitors, quiet, depressed, survival?

3. The romantic tone of the film, yet the minimalistic dialogue, naturalism in the photography, the sense of realism?

4. The impact of the ending, shock, not a resolution of the relationship, violence and death, cruelty?

5. The title, Ton and his reference to the wonderful town? It’s suiting him? Na and her life there, the hotel, her work? Their responding to each other?

6. Ton and his arrival, the meeting with Na, his work, rebuilding, going on to the building site, the workers? A quiet social life? Going out with Na, her reserve? His going back to the city, returning to the town? Na’s nephew and looking after him? The staff at the hotel? Na’s brother, their driving and the motorcycle gang? The possibilities, the love, the future? Ton’s story of his father, drinking, music, changing his career, not communicating with the father? Composing a song for Na? The phone call to his father – everything ready for a future? His being bashed, put into the river, his death?

7. Na, her quiet life, looking after the boy, wanting her brother to come back, work, the attraction to Ton, cleaning, the washing, hanging out the washing on the line, the weather, the rains? Her listening to Ton, going out with him, talk, his return, the sexual encounter, the hope, her final disappointment?

8. The boy, the glimpse, going to school, with the gang?

9. Na’s brother, his being a gangster, idle, away from home, the plea of his sister, talking to Ton, the group, the final bashing and killing of Ton, floating him in the river?

10. The delicacy and romanticism of most of the film – and the regretful feelings at its ending?