Fan chan

By far the best of the many Thai films I have seen, this will utterly astonish anyone expecting the melodrama and poor acting so often encountered in Thai cinema. As even by the standards of the latter, its budget was low, it shows in the tradition of which The Bicycle Thieves is perhaps the most spectacular example, that with fine acting and masterful direction, depiction of the emotions in a simple story can trump a budget of any size.

A young man called Jeap is invited to the wedding of his long-lost childhood friend Noi-Naa. His initial decision to give precedence to a prior engagement is soon abandoned when in his car he listens to the musical hits of his childhood and memories flood back in the way old music is perhaps uniquely powerful in making them do. Most of the story then focuses on Jeap as a ten-year-old agonisingly torn between the super-girlish circle of his oldest friend and neighbour Noi-Naa and a gang of characterful boys led by an amiably-roguish fat bully called Jack. Extremely nostalgic and wittily recounted, it is definitely a story to make one both laugh and cry. The acting is superb.

The title and cover are misleading. Touching as the deeply-felt friendship of Jeap and Noi-Naa is, Fan Chan is not a romance, but a story about friendships and their meaning in the emotional world of the nearly pubescent boy. The idea of its being romantic is actually deeply ironic, for what it does perhaps most convincingly and interestingly is to remind us of a truth that was obvious to everyone until a generation or two ago: that beyond his mother's love, a boy's needs until well into adolescence are for his own sex. Nowadays this tends to be obscured by contrived gender-blindness combined with a silly and uncomfortably half-hearted wish to see children prematurely aping their parents' romantic antics.

Unfortunately, the full mind-blowing emotional impact will only be felt by those with nostalgic memories of the lost simplicity of rural Thailand in the 1980s, and especially those who were children then. These above all accounted for its being the extraordinary and unexpected local hit it was, but even with its impact diluted, it fully deserves a global audience.

Edmund Marlowe, author of Alexander's Choice, a novel of boyhood, www.amazon.com/dp/1481222112.

What a movie! This was the first Thai movie I ever watched and it played on some random foreign movie channel that we had during the mid to late 2000s. I've watched amazing movies from that channel and this one ranks up there.

I was blown away by how good this movie was. It reminds me of my childhood even though I never lived in Thailand and even though my cultural background is completely different, I could identify with both the main characters and their friends. It's such a nostalgic trip. I would recommend any one who is planning to watch this movie to definitely give it a try.

This Thai comedic drama deserves American distribution, at least on the independent film circuit. The young cast, and team of directors and producers who all worked on this film, deserve applause for making such a tender and nostalgic look at youth and growing up.

In exploring these universal themes, which have been portrayed by many other movies in the past, this film makes a mature and inquisitive portrait into a child's point of view of growing up within a particular rural family community and interacting with the adults, parents, and childhood peers of that surrounding neighborhood group. Upon viewing the film, many audience members will probably fondly remember how growing up, as portrayed in the film, was so tentative, yet joyful and at other times sad and disappointing. This is the gritty reality of life that rings so true for all of us, who have grown up, and is so boldly explored in this courageous film.

The fact that the subject matter and themes dealt with by the film are notoriously taboo in Thai society makes this film even more of a cinematic celebration, particularly by members of the Thai community. And don't be surprised if the film forces you to cry at a couple of points in the film, as it makes its emotional impact in subtle and realistic ways.

To be commended for their acting portrayals are the young boy and young girl leads, who play Jeab and Noi-Naa respectively, as well as the standout performance by the enterprising bully, who I believe was called Jack in the film. The rest of the cast also give quite credible performances of their characters. Overall grade: A-.

It's an honor for me to be the first to comment on this movie. I had a chance to see this film a few months ago. As a Thai guy, it flashes back my childhood memory and that made me smile all the way through the end.

Even though it is not a high budget movie comparing to those from Hollywood, I believe that the simplified storyline is the strength of this movie.

After watching this movie, I had a warm feeling and it really made my day. The movie also has some funny moments like 'the chinese martial art fantasy scene'. I can't guarantee if the non-Thai viewers will enjoy it but I am sure that most of the Thais will definitely like it. :D

10/10 for a Thai.

I was just surfing channels & came across this movie on World Movies. The title was not very interesting but then they showed the synopsis of the movie & I was immediately drawn into this one. This movie is just not Thai specific as few have commented. This movie does appeal for non-thai viewers as well. I have grown up with similar neighborhood, friends, games & so I could really connect with the movie. This brought me back my childhood memories in a small town India where I spent a few years. Excellent acting by the lead roles & supporting cast made movie seem realistic & enjoyable.

This was my first Thai movie & it really made me consider watching a couple of more Thai movies...