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

2 wins & 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.

---

Plot Keywords:

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

---

Taglines:

More brutal than Ong-Bak.

---

Genres:

Action | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence throughout, and brief sexuality/nudity

Did You Know?

Trivia

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

---

Goofs

When the mob boss is informed that Zin and Masashi still have a relationship, a record can be seen being played on the record player. However, no music can be heard.

---

Connections

Features Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior (2003)

User Reviews

surprised to hear people complaining about "rip-offs"

Though the English subtitles on the copy I watched were nearly indecipherable, it seemed to me that the point was that her autism allowed her to absorb the fight skills of whomever she watched, and though the filmmakers couldn't afford to include clips from Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li movies in the film, I thought it was clear that - in addition to watching Tony Jaa movies, she had been watching Bruce's, Jackie's and Jet's. In the ice-house scene, she's clearly mimicking Bruce, just as she's clearly mimicking Jackie in the next scene with the locker doors and the knee-slide under the glass table. Then, in the next scene, she does some pole fighting that looks to be modeled after moves by Jet Li, and then, she starts doing some Tony Jaa knee and elbow work. She also defeats the spasmodic guy by almost instantly memorizing his style, and then she watches (her dad?) take on a bunch of baddies in a sword fight, and immediately picks up a couple of bludgeons, using them just as he did his sword.

In other words, I thought the mimicry was not only intentional, but intrinsic to the plot.

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

Gross USA:

$14,845

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,179,014

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sahamongkol Film International, Baa-Ram-Ewe

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min 90 min 90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1