Chocolate (2008)

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.

Director:

Prachya Pinkaew

Writers:

Napalee (screenplay), Chookiat Sakveerakul (screenplay)

Stars:

JeeJa Yanin, Hiroshi Abe, Pongpat Wachirabunjong

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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
Soumia Abalhaya	...	Boxer's Henchman

Storyline

When Zin, former girlfriend of a Thai mob boss, falls for Masashi, a Japanese gangster in Thailand, the boss banishes them: Masashi to Japan, and Zin, with her small daughter Zen, to live next to a martial arts school. Zen is autistic, with uncanny swift reflexes. She watches the students next door and Muay Thai movies, absorbing every technique. She's now a teen, and her mother needs chemotherapy. Zin has taken in a chubby kid, Moom, who watches over Zen. Moom finds a ledger listing business men who owe Zin money; he goes to them one at a time to collect in order to pay for Zin's treatment. Zen, with her martial skills, becomes his enforcer. A showdown with the boss is inevitable.

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Plot Keywords:

watching tv | pay phone | strong female lead | strong female character | tough woman | 

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Taglines:

She's sweet but deadly.

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Genres:

Action | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence throughout, and brief sexuality/nudity

Details

Country:

Thailand

Language:

Thai Japanese English

Release Date:

6 February 2008 (Thailand)

Also Known As:

Chocolate

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,180, 8 February 2009, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$13,925, 15 February 2009

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sahamongkol Film International,Baa-Ram-Ewe

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min 90 min 90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film originally included Zen watching scenes from Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan movies (in addition to Tony Jaa), but these scenes were eventually cut due to licensing problems. These licensing problems also caused other scenes to be removed from the original movie. The ice factory scene was originally shot as a split screen of Zen imitating the exact same moves she had seen Bruce Lee do in a fight scene from the movie The Big Boss (1971). It showed a clip of Bruce Lee doing his fight moves at the same time as Zen was mimicking Bruce Lee's moves. The warehouse scene was shot in a similar fashion, but this time it showed a split screen of Zen imitating Jackie Chan, wherein she would do her interpretation of a Jackie Chan fight routine. Eventually not only were the split screen scenes removed, but any scenes that involved Zen performing moves that too closely resembled fight sequences from Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan movies were all cut as well. The original full version that included these scenes has not been released anywhere in Thailand.

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Connections

Features The Protector (2005)

User Reviews

Exciting Thai movie with violent combats , thrills , action-packed and inevitable ending showdown

This is an unstoppable action movie plenty of violent fights , thrills and emotion . Over-the-top Chop-Socky in which wild fighting scenes provide an overwhelming view of JeeJa Yanin's skills . Colourful , Bangkok-set , well budgeted , leave no cliché untouched , but fights are perfectly staged . This is a Martial Arts action as never seen before in which an autistic girl called Zen (Yanin) with powerful martial art skills looks to settle her ailing mother (Ammara)'s debts by seeking out the ruthless gangs that owe her family money . She watches the neighbours next door and Muay Thai films , absorbing every martial technique . As young Zen and Mangmoom watch a picture , it results to be : Ong-Bak: Muay Thai warrior , among other movies . Furthermore , Zen also watches Thai Dragon . Later on , her father (Hiroshi Abe) , a Japanese gangster , returns Thailand seeking vengeance against a Thai mobster .

This violent Chop-Socky displays action-packed , thrills , fast-paced and wild fighting images . It is a thrilling , action-filled and violent film , being filmed in Thailand . Breathtaking combats filled with bounds and leaps , Knock-outs , punches , kicks . Actors made their owns stunts ; some of the players got injured and to had to be hospitalized during the shooting . Impressive fights and embarrassing acting , the whole thing was spectacularly shot . Overwhelming final duel in Bruce Lee's Game of death and Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill style .

This thrilling film has various homages to Bruce Lee , Jackie Chan and two films starred by Tony Jaa and were also directed by Prachya Pinkaew . The film originally included Zen watching scenes from Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan movies , but these scenes were eventually cut due to licensing problems ; these licensing problems also caused other scenes to be removed from the original movie . The ice factory scene was originally shot as a split screen of Zen imitating the exact same moves she had seen Bruce Lee do in a fight scene from the movie Fists of Fury or Big Boss. The motion picture was well directed by Prachya Pinkaew who is President of Thai Film Directors' Association . Pinkaew is an expert filmmaker on art martial movies , being mostly starred by his fetish actor Tony Jaa , such as 2012 The Protector 2 , 2011 The Kick , 2011 Elephant White , 2008 Chocolate , 2005 Thai Dragon , an the successful 2003 Ong-Bak: the warrior Muay Thai .