Sunset at Chaophraya (1996 film)

Sunset at Chaophraya (Thai: คู่กรรม, Khu Kam) is a 1996 romantic-drama film directed by Euthana Mukdasanit. Adapted from the novel Khu Kam by Thommayanti, the story is a love triangle, set in World War II-era Thailand, and depicts the star-crossed romance between an Imperial Japanese Navy officer and a Thai woman who is involved with the Free Thai resistance.

Sunset at Chaophraya
VHS cover art
Directed byEuthana Mukdasanit
Written byWanich Jarunggidanan (screenplay)
Thommayanti (novel)
StarringBird McIntyre
Apasiri Nitibhon
Music byAnuwat Surbsuwan
CinematographyPipat Pyakha
Edited byWarapa Kasemsri
Distributed byGrammy Film
Release date
  • 1996 (1996)
Running time
135 minutes
CountryThailand
LanguageThai, Japanese

Singer Thongchai "Bird" McIntyre stars as the Japanese officer Kobori, reprising his role from a popular, 26-episode television series in 1990 that was based on the book. Aside from the 1990 series, the story has been adapted numerous times, including a film in 1973, another film in the 1980s and a musical play in 2003 by Dreambox Theatre in Bangkok that was revived in 2007.

One of top five box office hits in Thailand in 1996,[1] this film was among the first Thai films to gain overseas distribution for home video, with an English-subtitled VHS release in 1998.[2]

Plot

It is 1944, and the Japan's efforts to win the Pacific War are failing, and a Thai woman, Angsumalin, has just lost her husband, Kobori, an officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy.

The scene then flashes back to 1939, the early days of World War II in Siam, to Angsumalin meeting one last time with her former lover, a young Thai man named Vanus. He is leaving for England for his studies and hopes that Angsumalin will wait for him and marry him when he returns.

Shortly thereafter, Thailand is invaded by Japanese military forces. In Thonburi, opposite Bangkok on the Chaophraya River, the Imperial Japanese Navy establishes itself at a base. The forces there are led by Kobori, an idealistic young captain. One day he sees Angsumalin swimming in the river and falls for her. She, being a proudly nationalistic Thai woman, despises him because he is a foreigner.

Nonetheless, Kobori persists at seeing her and a courtship develops. Angsumalin sees a way to use Kobori to serve the underground Free Thai Movement while she waits for Vanus.

Then, for political reasons, Angsumalin's father insists that she marry Kobori. Understanding that Angsumalin is not marrying him out of love, Kobori promises not to touch her, but he breaks that vow after the wedding.

Despite this, Angsumalin develops tender feelings for Kobori, but is still torn by her feelings for her nation and Vanus, who returns to set in motion a conflict between the two men.

Cast (1996 Version)
The Thai VCD release.
  • Bird McIntyre as Kobori
  • Apasiri Nitibhon as Angsumalin (in Japanese name Hideko)
  • Thiraphat Sajakul as Vanus
  • Supakorn Srisawat as Pol
  • Deux Doksadao as Bua
  • Chitrakorn Sundarapakshin as Angsumalin's father

References
  1. "Romantic February: Love in Southeast Asia". Bradford College and the Council on Southeast Asia Studies, Yale University. 2003. Retrieved 2007-08-23.
  2. "Khu gam .. Thailand's gone with the wind". Paknam Web Forums. 2006-10-21. Retrieved 2007-08-23.
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