The Overture


The Overture is a 2004 Thai tragic-nostalgia music-drama film. The film is a fictionalised account based on the life story of Thai palace musician Luang Pradit Phairoh, which follows the life of a Thai classical musician from the late 19th century to the 1940s. The film was the winner of several awards in Thailand and was the country's official selection for the 77th Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. It was directed by Itthisoontorn Vichailak, who also co-wrote the script. Producers included Nonzee Nimibutr and Chatrichalerm Yukol. The film was credited with a revival in the popularity of piphat – Thai classical music. In 2015, this film was remade into a musical play, which ran from the 4th of April to 17 May at KBank Siam Pic-Ganesha Theatre.

Plot

The story begins in the 1940s, with the Sorn recounting the tale of his childhood in 1880s Siam, during the reign of King Chulalongkorn.
Sorn's father bars the boy from taking up the ranat ek due to his brother's murder, precipitated by musical rivalry. Sorn defies his father and continues to play the instrument secretly.
Sorn becomes highly skilled at playing the ranat ek, leading to his father's support. As he excels, he grows arrogant, leading to his father forcing him to play the lesser Khong-wong to humble him. At a competition, Sorn steps in to lead his band, playing the ranat ek, and wins.
He is recruited by the palace, where he taught by the strict Master Tian. Sorn is taught all Thai instruments, and is punished for showing off - leading to his place being temporarily relinquished to a lesser player. At the kingdom's musical competition, it is Sorn who is again the lead player, where he must overcome his fear and face an old rival.
In the 1940s, Sorn is a respected teacher. This is during the rule of the dictator, Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsonggram, whose government called for the accelerated modernisation of Thailand amidst the ongoing Japanese occupation of Thailand, leading to the suppression of traditional Thai music, dance and theatre. Despite this, when his son brings a piano home, Sorn blends Thai and Western music by using the mallets of the ranat ek to play the piano, illustrating the importance of embracing the evolution of traditions.

Cast

  • Anuchyd Sapanphong as younger Sorn
  • Adul Dulyarat as elderly Sorn
  • Pongpat Wachirabunjong as Lt Col Veera
  • Narongrit Tosa-nga as Khun In
  • Phoovarit Phumpuang as Terd
  • Somlek Sakdikul as Master Tian

    Cast for Musical

  • Kornkan Sutthikoses as younger Sorn
  • Sathida Prompiriya as younger Chote

    Reception

After a poor showing at the box office on opening weekend, The Overture was pulled from many theaters. However, due to interest on Internet forums such as Pantip.com, the film was brought back and become a sensation that won numerous awards and sparked renewed interest in Thai classical music. The film was embraced by Royal Family and the Thai government, which used it as a promotional tool. It was one of the most popular Thai films of 2004.

Awards

In addition to being named as Thailand's official selection for Best Foreign Language Film for the 77th Academy Awards, The Overture collected dozens of awards in Thailand. They include:
2004 Thailand National Film Association Awards
2004 Bangkok Critics Assembly Awards
2004 Star Entertainment Award
  • Best Picture
  • Best Director
  • Best Supporting Actor
  • Best Film Editing
  • Best Screenplay
  • Best Sound Recording
  • Best Music

    Film festivals

The Overture was screened at many film festivals in 2004 and 2005. They include:
The original score was composed by Chatchai Pongprapaphan, with Thai classical music performed by Chaibhuk Bhutrachinda, the Korphai Ensemble and Narongrit Tosa-nga.
Narongrit, who portrayed Khun-In in the film, is a professional musician and a gifted player of the ranad-ek and actually performed his own ranad-ek parts in the film.
The Overture won Best Music at the Star Entertainment Awards 2004 and Bangkok Critics Assembly Awards.
A soundtrack album was produced by Itthisoontorn Vichailak and released in 2004, but has since gone out of print.

Track listing

  1. "Assajun" – 4:40
  2. "Kaek bor-ra-tes" – 0:53
  3. "Ton worrachet" – 1:35
  4. "Kum warn" – 1:34
  5. "Kra-tai ten" – 1:18
  6. "Lao duang duen" – 1:10
  7. "Hom rong pra-derm chai" – 1:39
  8. "Hom rong um-ma-baht" – 1:37
  9. "Hom rong chor paka" – 1:22
  10. "Home rong jeen tok mai" – 1:55
  11. "Saen kum-nueng" – 3:11
  12. *Tracks 2-11 traditional Thai music performed by Chaibhuk Bhutrachinda, Korphai and Narongrit Tosa-nga
  13. "Raek phob" – 2:12
  14. "Terd toh" – 2:38
  15. "Berk barn" – 0:50
  16. "Sum nuek" – 1:10
  17. "Chai-cha-na" – 2:10
  18. "Kwam wung" – 2:23
  19. *Tracks 12–17 are adapted from the original score by Chatchai Pongrapaphan