Chocolate (2008)

Director:

Prachya Pinkaew

Writers:

Chookiat Sakveerakul (screenplay)
Napalee (screenplay)

Release Date:

6 February 2008 (Thailand)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

Taste the fury.

Plot:

An autistic girl with powerful martial art skills looks to settle her ailing mother's debts by seeking out the ruthless gangs that owe her family money.

Plot Keywords:

Money | Thailand | Autistic | Martial Arts | Martial Arts School

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

JeeJa Yanin	...	Zen (as Yanin Vismitananda)
Hiroshi Abe	...	Masashi
Pongpat Wachirabunjong	...	No.8
Taphon Phopwandee	...	Mangmoon
Ammara Siripong	...	Zin (as Ammara Siriphong)
Dechawut Chuntakaro	...	Priscilla
Hiro Sano	...	Ryo (as Hirokazu Sano)
Aroon Wanatsabadeewong	...	Ice Factory Owner-Ice Man (as Aroon Wanasbodeewong)
Anusuk Jangajit	...	Candy Shop Owner
Nattakit Teachachevapong	...	Pork Man
Sirimongkhon Iamthuam	...	Boxer No.8 Henchman
Kittitat Kowahagul	...	Epileptic Boxer
Thanyathon Seekhiaw	...	Fur
Pirom Ruangkitjakan	...	Petch
Abalhaja Soumia	...	Boxer's Henchman
Silpakorn Mongkolnimite	...	Masashi - Age 3 Year (as Silpakorn Mongkolnimitr)
Sasisorn Fanyapathomwong	...	Zen - Age 1 Year (as Sasisorn Panyapathomwong)
Thunchalaporn Chewcharm	...	Zen - Age 3 years (as Thunchalanporn Chiewcharn)
Patsorn Koncameesuk	...	Zen - Age 8 Years (as Patsorn Kongmeesuk)
Amornpol Jeamwongsarijul	...	Teenage Gang Member Boy #1 (as Amornpol Jeamwongsirijul)
Thanakorn Sajlutikriangkri	...	Teenage Gang Member Boy #2 (as Thanakorn Sarutikriangkri)
Jirawat Silakis	...	Teenage Gang Member Boy #3
Wirat Kemklad	...	Teenage Gang Member Boy #4
Wanda Sangboonkro	...	Teenage Gang Member Girl #1
Apitchaya Supanchat	...	Teenage Gang Member Girl #2
Thaweesilp Wisanuyotin	...	Zen's Doctor
Phornapa Trirattanapipat	...	Zen's Nurse
Sompoi Ritdumrongkul	...	Zin's Doctor (as Sompol Ritdumrongkul)
Darunee Mekvimaanrat	...	Zin's Nurse (as Darunee Mekvimanrat)
Sirifa Kongma	...	Lady Boys Gang #1
Saksakul Kaewmak	...	Lady Boys Gang #2
Challermchai Termputtana	...	Lady Boys Gang #3 (as Chalermchai Termputtana)
Pramee Kalwratanapong	...	Shop House Owner (as Pranee Kaewratanapong)
Pattaya Kuratchtchawal	...	Ice Factory Owner's Wife (as Pattaya Kuratchatchawal)
Monthon Suravitthamma	...	Ice Factory Owner's Son
Nongkol Karkit	...	Ice Man's Henchman #1 (as Mongkol Kaiket)
Chayuth Blianart	...	Ice Man's Henchman #2 (as Chayuth Buanart)
Kasim Prodontee	...	Ice Man's Henchman #3 (as Kasem Promdontee)
Panot Sookit	...	Ice Man's Henchman #4 (as Panot Sookjit)
Thanabotin Yongsupchart	...	Evil Candy's Henchman #1 (as Thanabordin Yongsuebchart)
Santichai Kallayanimitr	...	Evil Candy's Henchman #2
Kitiman Seang	...	Evil Candy's Henchman #3 (as Kitinan Seang)
Narat Pattanapongchai	...	Evil Candy's Henchman #4
Nattapol Boontan	...	Evil Candy's Henchman #5
Takashi Phaenit	...	Masashi's Henchman #1 (as Thakashi Phaenet)
Einosuke Okamura	...	Masashi's Henchman #2
Daisuke Yamamoto	...	Masashi's Henchman #3
Shinsuke Muraoka	...	Masashi's Henchman #4
Daisuke Sekimoto	...	Masashi's Henchman #5 (as Daisuke Seki)
Kazuya Suzuki	...	Masashi's Henchman #6 (as Kazuya Suzaki)
Naowarat Seusat	...	Thai Bar's Owner in Japan

Directed by
Prachya Pinkaew

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Napalee		screenplay
Chookiat Sakveerakul		screenplay

Produced by
Tech Akarapol	....	producer (as Akarapol Techaratanaprasert)
Prachya Pinkaew	....	producer
Panna Rittikrai	....	producer
Somsak Techaratanaprasert	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Nimit Jitranon
Rochan Madicar
Korrakot Sittivash

Cinematography by
Decha Srimantra

Film Editing by
Rashane Limtrakul
Pop Surasakuwat

Production Design by
Rachata Panpayak

Sound Department
Suttisak Sittjit	....	sound

Stunts
Weerapon Poomatfon	....	action choreographer
Panna Rittikrai	....	action supervisor
Thonapan Thaworn	....	action choreographer

Camera and Electrical Department
Phasin Saranate	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera

Production Companies

• Sahamongkol Film International (presents)
• Baa-Ram-Ewe

Distributors

• Cathay-Keris Films (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Innoform Media (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Intercontinental Film Distributors (HK) (2008) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Magnet Releasing (2009) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Sahamongkolfilm Co. (2008) (Thailand) (theatrical)
• Tohokushinsha Film (2009) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Atlantic Film (2010) (Finland) (DVD)
• Atlantic Film (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Cineasia (2008) (UK) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• E1 Entertainment (2009) (Canada) (DVD)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2008) (United Arab Emirates) (all media) (Middle East)
• Madman Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (DVD)
• Magnolia Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Magnolia Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• One Movie (2010) (Italy) (all media)
• Pan Vision (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
• Versus Entertainment (2009) (Spain) (all media)

Other Companies

• Kitakyushu Film Commission  film commission

Also Known As:

"Fury" - Malaysia (English title)
"Chocolate Fighter" - Japan (English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence throughout, and brief sexuality/nudity

Runtime:

110 min | Canada:90 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | Argentina:90 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival) | UK:92 min

Country:

Thailand

Language:

Thai | Japanese | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

Hong Kong:IIB | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:18 | Malaysia:18SG | Argentina:16 | USA:R | South Korea:18 | Japan:PG-12 | Australia:MA (2009) | New Zealand:R16 | Germany:16 | Finland:K-15

Company:

Sahamongkol Film International

Trivia:

The film that young Zen and Mangmoom watch is Ong-bak (2003). Zen also watches The Protector (2005). Both films star Tony Jaa and were also directed by Prachya Pinkaew.

Movie Connections:

Features Ong-bak (2003)

a cute little girl with a score to settle and outstanding martial arts skills takes revenge on her mother's wrong doers

what we have here are 2 major outlines on opposite poles of each other that best describe the movie. more like the angel on the left shoulder and the devil on the right if you will. the "dark" side of the movie portrayed as the "devil" brings about a negative sort of touch to the movie in terms of the script which is outrageosuly bad or in milder terms, too simple. the "angel" side of the movie shines in terms of choreography which is one of the best i've seen mostly because it is not repetitious and most of all, the heart of this movie reflects in the choreography's REALISTIC touch in the truest way possible. if you own the DVD version watch the end credits and you will know what i mean. the story is all common...one man army (in this case one-girl army...yes, people you've read correctly not one-woman, but ONE-GIRL ARMY)which sets about to bring justice with a personal touch to the one she loves most...her mother, but the incredible action/fighting scenes are even more complicated given the fact the girl is autistic, and as much as they're complicated they're gratious and extremely well executed especially with the slow-motion camera. after the 30-minute mark, gradually we are introduced in the world of martial arts at its finest, with a gradual build-up of simple moves which later enchant the eyes as they transform in spectacular acrobatics. the last half hour of the movie (besides the main character), is the crown jewel of this flick, as the viewer is treated to a whopping!!!! 20 minutes of non-stop!!!! action sequences and fine acrobatics. all-in-all the summary looks something like this: poorly written script with a story that excels in action/acrobatics...in other words choreography at its finest. the latter makes up big time in terms of what the script is lacking but given these circumstances i think a truly martial arts fan can easily overlook the only big minus of this movie...the script. if the script would've been more complex, this could easily have passed for the perfect movie of its gender, but you cant have them all, can you ? still it is a good one to watch, totally entertaining. and on one last note, the plot says "an autistic woman...." the character is a girl not a woman, there is a major difference between the two. peace all and enjoy this bruce-lee stylized flick.