Transistor Love Story (2001)
"Monrak Transistor" (original title)

Phaen is a suburban young man with a great love for music. He never misses a chance to show off his voice at temple fairs in his village. It is at one of the fairs that he meets and falls ... See full summary »

Director:

Pen-Ek Ratanaruang

Writers:

Pen-Ek Ratanaruang (screenplay), Wat Wanlayangkoon (novel)

Stars:

Supakorn Kitsuwon, Siriyakorn Pukkavesh, Black Phomtong

7 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Supakorn Kitsuwon	...	Phaen (Pan)
Siriyakorn Pukkavesh	...	Sadaw (Sadao)
Black Phomtong	...	Yhord (Yot)
Somlek Sakdikul	...	Suwat
Porntip Papanai	...	Dao
Ampon Rattanawong	...	Siew
Prasit Wongrakthai	...	Old Chuey, Sadaw's Father
Chartchai Hamnuansak	...	The Old Prison Guard
Ackarat Nitipol	...	Kiattisak
Sawang Rodnuch	...	Yen
Chanikan Pocharat	...	Oi
Baworanrit Chantasakda	...	Sia Noum
Jakra Rujiwanich	...	Sia Noi
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ornnapa Krissadee	...	Charity ball announcer

Storyline

Phaen is a suburban young man with a great love for music. He never misses a chance to show off his voice at temple fairs in his village. It is at one of the fairs that he meets and falls in love with Sadao. On their wedding day, Phaen gives Sadao a transistor radio that the new family loves, and it also gives Phaen many a daydream of becoming a famous singer himself. Soon, Sadao is pregnant and it is hard for Phaen to leave home, but he has to enter military service. While there, he enters a singing contest, and winds up first runner-up. So he decides to leave the service and heads for Bangkok to follow his dream. He spends two years in a band that never goes anywhere, and eventually is forced to work in a sugarcane plantation. But a fight causes him to lose his job. As things go from bad to worse, he recalls his transistor radio with fondness, for it evokes in his mind much better and more peaceful times, when dreams were still possible.

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Plot Keywords:

love | transistor radio | singing contest | singing | village | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Musical | Romance

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Details

Country:

Thailand

Language:

Thai

Release Date:

27 November 2002 (France)

Also Known As:

Mon-Rak Transistor

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinemasia

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min 115 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Crazy Credits

Dedicated to singer Surapol Sombatcharoen (1930-1968), who wrote "Don't Forget".

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Connections

Features Tears of the Black Tiger (2000)

User Reviews

You have to see it to get in love with it

The title of the movie may be misleading for a person who is about to see the movie, but once the movie is seen, the sentimental value of the small radio player becomes much clearer. The movie has been described as kitschy, musical, Thai soap opera, etc. It may be all that, but it is never just that. The very first opening shot of the movie will convince you that the image is the work of the true artist.

As the movie progresses, the "art" slowly transforms into "life, and nothing but". The pace, images, story line - all reflect the slow disappearance of the "movie storytelling" and ever growing realism. True, it is more convenient to see poverty through the wide lens with lush soundtrack, but this script superbly mastered the art of walking on the edges of all the genres without falling into any one of them. It is a "must see" to appreciate superb acting, beautiful cinematography, very ironic, but never sarcastic, look at life of two young Thai lovers and the convoluted ordeals through which life (or was it the script author? :) ) led them.