Sai Lor Fah
Encyclopedia
Sai Lor Fah is a 2004
Thai
crime
-comedy
written and directed by Yuthlert Sippapak
. Filmed on location in Pattaya
, it is the story of friends who become mixed up in an escalating series of crimes.
bars in Pattaya
. Tao has the bad habit, however, of always singing a loud, off-key rendition of the Asanee-Wasan
song "Sai Lor Fah" ("Lighting Rod"), which always results in Tao and his friends being thrown out of the club.
Tao is dealer of counterfeit
DVDs, but his real vocation is gambling
and he frequently bets on Premier League
soccer. He finally wins some money and decides to pay back a 100,000 baht
loan from Tun and also treat Tun to a big night out at the city's finest karaoke club.
At the club, the shy, portly Tun meets a young woman, Nok, shares a duet with her, and ends up taking her back to his house. The next morning, Nok disappears. It turns out she is the mistress
of Mee, a local crime kingpin, and Tao paid her for a one-time deal to sleep with his friend. Tun, a dealer in rare Buddhist
amulet
s, becomes obsessed with finding Nok. He gives the 100,000 baht he received from Tun to a transvestite pimp
who might have a lead on Nok.
Tun, meanwhile, is involved with crimes of his own, and has become beholden to Mee and a rival kingpin, Moo, who are both interested in obtaining a rare amulet that Tao has in his possession. In a complicated scheme, Tao ends up perpetuating the kidnapping
of a wealthy American man's daughter, and holding her for 3 million baht ransom. Also, a shadowy female assassin has entered the picture to complicate matters.
2004 in film
The year 2004 in film involved some significant events. Major releases of sequels took place. It included blockbuster films like Shrek 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Passion of the Christ, Meet the Fockers, Blade: Trinity, Spider-Man 2, Alien vs. Predator, Kill Bill Vol...
Thai
Cinema of Thailand
The cinema of Thailand dates back to the early days of filmmaking, when King Chulalongkorn's 1897 visit to Bern, Switzerland was recorded by Francois-Henri Lavancy-Clarke. The film was then brought to Bangkok, where it was exhibited...
crime
Crime film
Crime films are films which focus on the lives of criminals. The stylistic approach to a crime film varies from realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures, to the far-fetched evil doings of imaginary arch-villains. Criminal acts are almost always glorified in these movies.- Plays and films...
-comedy
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
written and directed by Yuthlert Sippapak
Yuthlert Sippapak
Yuthlert Sippapak is a Thai film director, screenwriter and producer. He's best known for his genre-blending films Killer Tattoo and Buppah Rahtree .-Biography:...
. Filmed on location in Pattaya
Pattaya
Pattaya is a city in Thailand, located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 165 km southeast of Bangkok located within but not part of Amphoe Bang Lamung in the province of Chonburi....
, it is the story of friends who become mixed up in an escalating series of crimes.
Plot
Tun and Tao are friends who enjoy spending time together in karaokeKaraoke
is a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
bars in Pattaya
Pattaya
Pattaya is a city in Thailand, located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 165 km southeast of Bangkok located within but not part of Amphoe Bang Lamung in the province of Chonburi....
. Tao has the bad habit, however, of always singing a loud, off-key rendition of the Asanee-Wasan
Asanee-Wasan
Asanee-Wasan is a Thai rock band fronted by brothers Asanee "Pom" and Wasan "Toe" Chotikul. Among the band's hits is a 1989 song that puts into verse the lengthy ceremonial name for Bangkok, "Krung Thep Mahanakhon" . The elder brother, Asanee, is known for his guitar solos and his wild, "rock...
song "Sai Lor Fah" ("Lighting Rod"), which always results in Tao and his friends being thrown out of the club.
Tao is dealer of counterfeit
Counterfeit
To counterfeit means to illegally imitate something. Counterfeit products are often produced with the intent to take advantage of the superior value of the imitated product...
DVDs, but his real vocation is gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
and he frequently bets on Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
soccer. He finally wins some money and decides to pay back a 100,000 baht
Thai baht
The baht is the currency of Thailand. It is subdivided into 100 satang . The issuance of currency is the responsibility of the Bank of Thailand.-History:The baht, like the pound, originated from a traditional unit of mass...
loan from Tun and also treat Tun to a big night out at the city's finest karaoke club.
At the club, the shy, portly Tun meets a young woman, Nok, shares a duet with her, and ends up taking her back to his house. The next morning, Nok disappears. It turns out she is the mistress
Mistress (lover)
A mistress is a long-term female lover and companion who is not married to her partner; the term is used especially when her partner is married. The relationship generally is stable and at least semi-permanent; however, the couple does not live together openly. Also the relationship is usually,...
of Mee, a local crime kingpin, and Tao paid her for a one-time deal to sleep with his friend. Tun, a dealer in rare Buddhist
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
amulet
Amulet
An amulet, similar to a talisman , is any object intended to bring good luck or protection to its owner.Potential amulets include gems, especially engraved gems, statues, coins, drawings, pendants, rings, plants and animals; even words said in certain occasions—for example: vade retro satana—, to...
s, becomes obsessed with finding Nok. He gives the 100,000 baht he received from Tun to a transvestite pimp
Pimp
A pimp is an agent for prostitutes who collects part of their earnings. The pimp may receive this money in return for advertising services, physical protection, or for providing a location where she may engage clients...
who might have a lead on Nok.
Tun, meanwhile, is involved with crimes of his own, and has become beholden to Mee and a rival kingpin, Moo, who are both interested in obtaining a rare amulet that Tao has in his possession. In a complicated scheme, Tao ends up perpetuating the kidnapping
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
of a wealthy American man's daughter, and holding her for 3 million baht ransom. Also, a shadowy female assassin has entered the picture to complicate matters.
Cast
- Choosak Eamsuk as Tun
- Somchai Kemglad as Tao
- Pitchanart SakakornPitchanart SakakornPitchanart Sakakorn is a Thai actress. Her starring film roles include Pattaya Maniac, Buppah Rahtree Phase 2: Rahtree Returns and The Victim.She has a Bachelor's degree from Assumption University.-Filmography:* Butterfly in Grey...
as Nok - Somlek SakdikulSomlek SakdikulSomlek Sakdikul is a Thai film actor and musician. He is sometimes credited as Somchai Sakdikul. He portrayed "Suwat" or "Daddy", the lecherous music producer in Pen-Ek Ratanaruang's 2001 comedy, Monrak Transistor...
as Moo - Black Pomthong as Mee
- Petchtai WongkamlaoPetchtai WongkamlaoPetchtai Wongkamlao, , is a Thai comedian, actor and film director. He is best known in Thailand by his stage name, Mum Jokmok ; and is a popular Thai television personality...
Casting notes
- Choosak Eamsuk (also known as Nong Cha Cha Cha) is a popular comedian and comic actor in Thailand. He was cast in the leading dramatic role, a trademark of director Yuthlert Sippapak. In a further role reversal, Somchai Kemglad, an actor who played the dramatic lead in Yuthert's debut film, Killer TattooKiller TattooKiller Tattoo is a 2001 Thai action-comedy film written and directed by Yuthlert Sippapak...
, was given the comic reliefComic reliefComic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character, scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension.-Definition:...
role in Sai Lor Fah.