Jan Dara

Mary Ann V. Garcia

BBrc 3-3d

Title: Jan Dara

Synopsis:

Widely considered Thailand’s leading director of the late 90’s, Nonzee Nimibutr spins this erotic drama based on one of that country’s most popular and controversial literary works. Jan Dara was cursed from the beginning when his mother, Dara, died during childbirth. His autocratic, libidinous father, Khun Luang, cursed and abused the child, caling him a bastard. Meanwhile, Khun Luang dealt with his sudden widower status by engaging in perverse, licentious behavior , often right in front of a portrait of his late wife. When his mother’s friend, Waad, comes to Khun Luang’s estate to look after the child, the patriarch wastes no time in seducing her. Soon Waad bores Kaew , who Khun Luang teaches to hate Jan Dara. Later, the old man marries his former lover, the nymphomaniac Boonlueang, who teaches the teenage Jan Dara his first lessons in the ways of love. Eventually , our abused hero is thrown out of his father’s estate when Kaew frames him for raping her. Years pass and the formerly powerful Khun Luang, ravaged by age and disease, is a shell of the man he was before. Jan Dara is asked to return to his ancestral estate to marry Kaew , who is now pregnant , and only does so when he is promised the deed to the house. Once ensconced, Jan Dara begins taking same libertine pleasures as his father, un wittingly becoming the very person he loathes.

Director:  Nonzee Nimibutr

Writer:  Nonzee NImibutr

Cast of Characters:

§  Suwinit Panjamawat as teenage Jan Dara

§  Santisuk Promsiri as Khun Luang, Jan Dara’s father

§  Cristy Chung as Boonlueang

§  Eakarat Sarsukh as adult Jan Dara

§  Wipawee Charoenpura as Aunt Waad

§  Pathawarin Timkul as Kaew

Cinematic Focus:

Character driven – The movie start to  focused in the life of  Jan Dara whose story  begins when he was cursed by his father  Khun Luang. His miserable life begins with his father were at his young age he witnessed a sexual intercourse. Jan Dara begins taking same libertine pleasures as his father, un wittingly becoming the very person he loathes.

Reaction:

At first, I was totally shocked in the following scenes. Because for me it was too malicious and it’s very humiliating to be watched. But as the movie goes by, I knew that there’s a beautiful story beyond those love scenes. But, it is still confusing for those who will watch the movie.

2 stars