It's absolutely appropriate that the (Yet) Another Hole in the Head Festival has included Mark Duffield's The Ghost of Mae Nak in this year's line-up since the ghost has a big ol' hole in her head! How much more relevant could this movie possibly be?
Just before today's press screening, filmbud Brian Darr—who lived for a while in Thailand—advised me that Duffield's film is only the latest incarnation of the Thai folk legend of Mae Naak Phra Khanong. A little research reveals that it's about the 20th incarnation, the most popular of which has been Nonzee Nimibutr's mega hit Nang Nak (1999). As I understand it, Ghost of Mae Nak kind of takes up where Nang Nak leaves off, shifting the story into a modern setting and doing Nang Nak one better through computer graphics that have improved much since 1999.
By 'gothic modernity' do you mean something like what we see in "The Others"? Is the story firmly situated in the Thailand of today, or does it make frequent use of flashbacks? Are these wealthy families that are being threatened, or does the action take place mostly in the slums? How about the acting, the camerawork, the music? Sorry to ask so many Q's, Michael, I know that you spent a lot of time researching the legend and it must be hectic at the fest. Always appreciate your writing!
The comparison to "The Others" is somewhat apt, Jon, though "The Others" I felt was much more disconcerting and suspenseful than "Ghost of Mae Nak", which as I mentioned is really more a love story. The bulk of the story, yes, is set in modern-day Bangkok, with only one brief narrative flashback detailing the legend. Protagonists Mak and Nak are definitely an up-scale young Thai couple who are very much in love and excited about beginning their new life together in a new house. Their love is enacted believably enough. It is precisely because they are well-to-do that they are preyed upon by various lower-class characters who provide corpse potential for Mae Nak. These opportunists, thereby, become synonymous with the villagers who interfered with the legend's lovers and suffer similar retribution. The parallels are pretty clearly etched. Production values all around are fairly sound, nothing extraordinary or nothing I felt needed singling out. Music so-so. Acting is best with the subsidiary roles, especially liked the blind fortuneteller.
fangoria says,
"• Tartan Films has picked up the U.S. rights to GHOST OF MAE NAK, a Thai-language spooker written and directed by Britisher Mark Duffield that was a hit in its home country. Based on the same local legend that inspired Nonzee Nimibutr’s well-regarded 1999 feature NANG NAK, it’s about a newlywed couple who buy an abandoned house, not knowing they’re getting a ghost with a tragic past in the bargain. Release details have yet to be determined, but expect at least a DVD debut by the end of 2006."
I have actually seen the film and get disappointed.
It is like a good student try to do something that a creative student had done.. Everything seems standard, following the plot, good(some death scene) and bad effects(the terrible ghost)..and a bad script. Always make a character jump to a point and starting to explain something so you know where the movie is going..
It is funny that the doctor suddenly showed the gal the new city map and poorly made old map of bangkok on his office wall, then telling her that location is used to be Mae nak home..then tell her more about legends... where in the world you can find a doctor that put 2 map on the wall, and familiar with the Mae Nak tale?only in that movie.. and actors in it seems pretty greenhorn..
a poor script and poor direction, always get someone into the scene and talk something in uncommon sense to explain more about the movie.