Monrak - Magische Liebe

This is an old-fashioned way how a film is made. The characters and the story are not what we can relate to. They are totally dull and unconvincing. Who cares about the pathetic jokes a guy putting himself in a difficult situation. Just painfully waited until it ended. This film is overrated and a big disappointment from Thailand.

The title of the movie may be misleading for a person who is about to see the movie, but once the movie is seen, the sentimental value of the small radio player becomes much clearer. The movie has been described as kitschy, musical, Thai soap opera, etc. It may be all that, but it is never just that. The very first opening shot of the movie will convince you that the image is the work of the true artist.

As the movie progresses, the "art" slowly transforms into "life, and nothing but". The pace, images, story line - all reflect the slow disappearance of the "movie storytelling" and ever growing realism. True, it is more convenient to see poverty through the wide lens with lush soundtrack, but this script superbly mastered the art of walking on the edges of all the genres without falling into any one of them. It is a "must see" to appreciate superb acting, beautiful cinematography, very ironic, but never sarcastic, look at life of two young Thai lovers and the convoluted ordeals through which life (or was it the script author? :) ) led them.

I saw monrak transistor twice and loved it. Not many films can make you laugh as well as bring tears to your eyes but this one did. You might not be so keen on this film if you are not a looktung fan, and I am an addict. Even if you don't know the music the film is enjoyable just as a comedy. Fun is poked at the legal system, record promotors, the well meaning rich and the poor. Fate is the path our hero has to follow only to end up where he started, hopefully still singing-peter

This is an excellent film. It is truly fascinating. As the narrator of the film says in the opening scene: this is the story of Phaen (Pan), who is a good guy, but whom the gods, for whatever reason, chose to give amounts of bad luck. In a sense, this is a very "black" film. The film starts with a summary of Pan courting Sadaw, before the two marry, and Sadaw's consequent pregnancy. However, due to his misfortune, Pan is drafted into the army, and from there, his misery continues. No matter what Pan does, and no matter how nicely he acts towards, and attempts to do "the right thing", it seems that he is just pulled deeper and deeper into it. He is pulled more and more towards the urban life, and the miserable conditions there, away from the romanticised peaceful life in the countryside, symbolised by Sadaw, and the transistor which he gave her as a token of her love, but which falls to the floor and breaks. Throughout the film, traditional Thai music is used to describe what is happening, the most frequently used being a very romantic one, whose lyrics are "don't forget, don't forget"--words that give hope to Pan, as he suffers his misfortunes in the big world, because his fate is cruel, and has decided that his dream, although seemingly so close to being realised, will remain simply a dream.

This is the 2001 best film of Thai movies. Pen-Ek did it by changing his style (from Ruang talok 69 (1999) and Fun Bar Karaoke (1997) ) to the native life. This movie is the most SIMPLY than any movies he did, Full of laughs, tears and familiar with Thai Lifestyles. This movie is for Thai people by Thai people.