‘CHOCOLATE’ UNWRAPPED : At the premiere of a new Thai action classic.
Sometimes actually getting to a movie premiere can be almost as exciting as the film itself. Take the first night of the new Thai actioner Chocolate. It was a rainy night in Bangkok, and traffic was backed up clear to Chiang Mai. I received a call at my hotel from Gilbert Lim, top dog at the film’s production company, Sahamongkol. Whatever you do, don’t take a taxi, he warned me. Nothing for it but the Skytrain, the Thai capital’s elevated railroad. My hot date and I ran through the rain down various grimy backstreets to the Skytrain station.
Once aboard, we looked down at a Blade Runner-ish landscape of neon lights and stalled cars. The train delivered us to a station a few blocks from the theatre, and time was pressing. Run, I commanded. Easy for me in pants and jacket, less easy for my arm candy in heels and a red pepper flavoured dress. Along the elevated walkway we raced, into a cavernous modern mall (of which Bangkok has many) and, finally, into the theatre where the premiere was being held.
The place was packed with fans and press. Appropriately, there was a huge chocolate fountain in the centre of the foyer. We ducked beneath the red security rope and turned a corner, and, bang, I found myself shoulder to shoulder with Tony Jaa. His entourage were shepherding him backstage. When are you finishing Ong Bak 2?, I asked him. Soon!, he promised, and was hustled off.
On the main stage, Chocolate director Prachya Pinkaew (who previously helmed the Dragon Dynasty release The Protector) and Thai action legend Panna Rittikrai (Tony Jaa’s master) were introducing new action ace Yanin Vismitanada AKA Jeeja to the crowd. This was her big night, and Tony duly appeared on stage to present some flowers and wish her well. Behind them, a trailer showed Jeeja in action on the camera, and feeling the pain off camera.
After her presentation, we greeted Jeeja and the rest of the Chocolateers before being ushered into the theatre for the premiere. The film definitely delivers in the action stakes, and I’d go on record as saying it has the most satisfying fight sequences of any Thai actioner since Born To Fight (also out on Dragon Dynasty, naturally!). As mentioned above, Jeeja suffered for her art, and the film features end credit outtakes of Jackie Chan proportions. We emerge, buzzing and dazzled, to find Jeeja posing for press photos. Remember the day I got hit on the nose?, she gushes. You were there! She’s glammed up and totally charming, and so excited at the positive response to her film debut.
So who is this pint-sized pugilist? A Bangkok-native, Jeeja began training in Taekwondo at the age of 11, attaining her black belt in the art two years later. She was coaching TKD when she first attracted the attention of Panna Rittikrai. On a whim, she tried out for Panna’s directorial comeback, Born To Fight. Panna and Prachya saw something special in this young performer, and decided to build a whole film around her. Chocolate took a long journey from development to execution, and underwent several reshoots, including the stand-out ‘dojo fight’ sequence that really anchors the final third of the film. Jeeja acquits herself with truly amazing grace as a movie martial arts performer, and shows great potential as a dramatic actress.
Having seen footage from early cuts of the film, I was truly impressed with what a good actress Jeeja is when I met her in person. Chocolate doesn’t shy away from presenting an uncompromising portrait of the strange riddle that is autism. Zen, the central character, is admirable and sympathetic, but never overtly likeable. She remains withdrawn throughout the film, communicating physically what she cannot express through normal human interaction. This performance in no way prepares you for the real Jeeja, who is actually 23, and in her 3rd year of studying film at Kasem Bundit University. (After this film, I bet no-one tries to steal her lunch money…) She speaks decent English, and has a bright smile and engaging disposition. The real Jeeja is 180 degrees removed from Zen, and I’m certain she can play future roles with equal authenticity.
After the premiere, Prachya’s Baa-Ram-Ewe team hosts a party at a bar close to their offices. Jeeja seems delighted to hang with the crew and her other colleagues, and the sundry other guests assembled to celebrate the film. Her follow-up vehicle is already in development, and, while promoting the film, Jeeja stays on the Baa-Ram-Ewe campus, in a small room next to one of the three training halls. Chocolate sees her enter the pantheon of female Asian action icons, and Jeeja’s future looks sweeter still.
Comments
- Rico, Netherlands | 2008-03-06 02:18:36
- 107, Pueblo | 2008-03-06 11:28:13
- Tommy Pachicano, Lubbock Texas | 2008-04-15 21:20:46
- Kev, Boston, MA | 2008-03-05 17:07:42