Mah nakorn

Granted the setting is vastly different (contemporary Bangkok) and there's not a drop of blood to be seen, "Citizen Dog" is a brilliant sophomore work from the director of "Tears of the Black Tiger" -- one of the best and most original movies I've seen in the last ten years.

Retaining the odd color schemes in a somewhat muted form, and excellent choice of soundtracks, this movie is really a lot of fun. A large ensemble of bizarre characters completes the picture including a dead motorcycle taxi driver, an amnesiac addicted to licking things, and a talking, chain-smoking teddy bear.

Follow the adventures of Pod as he moves to Bangkok from the country, takes a number of different jobs and meets Jin, the girl of his dreams. Along the way, a number of really weird things happen and everyone gets a tail, but hey, love's like that.

It's soufflé meets tom yum. The comparisons are inevitable but while Wisit Sasanatieng's "Citizen Dog" ("Mah Nakorn") does seem to have been heavily influenced by Jean-Pierre Jeunet's sleeper "Amelie", this surrealistically delightful Thai comedy has enough merits of its own to set it apart from its French counterpart.

Screened as part of the International Film Competition of this year's Cinemanila Film Festival, "Citizen Dog" tells the story of Pod (Mahasamut Boonyaruk), a young country man who moves to Bangkok and ends up working on a sardine cannery. After a freak accident where he loses (and eventually regains) one of his fingers, he quits his job and becomes a security guard for another company where he meets and falls in love with Jin (Saengthong Gate-Uthong), a company maid who's obsessed with romance stories in magazines, and an enigmatic white book written in words no one seems to understand.

And what ensues is a movie that, for the most part, knows its essential qualities and plays up to its charming oddity and energetic mood that should suit well to the viewer who knows what s/he's in for. The film's quirky nature can be overbearing at times what with Sasanatieng's script that tends to be inconsistent in some parts. But with such a cheery nature that's eager to please, the end result is nevertheless a fulfilling enchantment. The cinematography and production design introduces Bangkok not as the coarse metropolis I was acquainted with during my stay there earlier this year, but rather a city of eccentric fantasy that lends a euphoric quality to the analogous world it presents. The witty employment of various cinematic tricks and giddy soundtrack keep the tone light.

While most of the speaking parts belong to Pen-Ek Ratanaruang as the film's narrator, Boonyaruk effortlessly portrays the lead character's mix of audacity and romanticism. Gate-Uthong ably compliments that with her character's impassive feeling towards Pod. Their characters' fate is as obvious as the film's frivolous traits but you can't help but feel for them anyway.

Then again, "Citizen Dog" isn't for everyone. You have to be in the right frame of mind to enjoy its quirkiness and be able to laugh with it. As the film tells us, when you stop looking, the thing you're looking for will find you. Ditto. Let the film do its thing and its charm will sneak its way inside you.

yes this movie reminds me of Amelie of a few years back but only on some of the techniques. The sardine factor reminds me of the opening scene in Joe vs. the Volcano. (Another wonderful film) And even the central story is not original, the way the director told it is absolutely fabulous. However, the story is told by a third person narrator so this may turn some people off. And I suspect there are some local sayings, plus loads of little bits of side tracks and idiosyncratic characters that I failed to understand. The movie also tries to address, or touch on many issues, some social, some environmentatl, and some personal I suspect.

I saw this at the end of a very long film fest of some very serious, slow paced, well-intentioned, low-budgeted not well-used, and on top, very personal movies. So this was a tension release for me and great fun to watch.

Also, watch for the band playing the theme song at the end when the credits roll.

I loved this movie. It's finally out on DVD with English subtitles which is how I got to see it. The other comments basically explain the plot. I was totally won over by the vivid colors and the simple love story that is central to the film and the absurd story elements. I haven't seen Amelie so I can't compare it as everyone else has done. I thought the acting of the leads was great. It can't be easy to play these characters, especially Pod who is often blank but at the same time you can see the wheels turning in his head. I suppose I am biased since I love Bangkok and the Thais, but even with all of the crazy plot lines and quirks I found the film to be charming. And of course having the song "Before" by ModernDog woven throughout the film made me love it even more. Definitely not a film for everyone, but as some one who sees a lot of indie movies I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Pod moves from the country to Bangkok. there he gets a job at a sardine company, meets Jin a maid with whom he falls in love,and eventually becomes a celebrity because he is the only one in the city with out a tail.(I'm leaving out the white book,the finger, the job shifts, the rain of helmets, the plastic mountain, the royal princess, tails, reincarnation and 9 or 10 other things) Off the wall fantasy romance environmental comedy with music. This is the sort of thing that could never get made in the United States and could only come out of Asia. I don't mean that as a put down, only that outside of the West people are more willing to let movies be what ever they are.

At turns charming, surreal, funny and too much this is a very wild movie. It drops you into its own little world and keeps you there. I have no idea how to describe it other than its its own animal and unlike any film that has ever been made outside of Thailand (I've seen some Thai films that are equally loopy). The music is good. the sentiment is sweet. All of the weird things that happen just seem to be taken in stride and its wonderful.

It also can be a bit overwhelming. Frankly by the time I put in the second VCD I was getting worn out. Too much whimsy for my taste. Actually its not the whimsy so much as some plot shifts that lengthen the story for no good reason (some of the environmental/Peter plot line seems to just go on) and the film seems to be running not so much in its own time but an allotted time.

If you can take the film for what it is and let it sweep over you like a tsunami then you'll probably have a good time. Definitely worth a look for those who hate the run of the mill.