Bangkok Traffic love Story
Encyclopedia
Bangkok Traffic Love Story is a Thai
romantic comedy
film released by GTH on 15 October 2009. It was directed by Adisorn Tresirikasem and written by Navapol Thamrongruttanarit. The film tells the story of Mei Li (Cris Horwang), a thirty-year-old woman feeling desperate about being last among her friends to marry, and her relationship with Loong (Theeradej Wongpuapan), an engineer working on the BTS Skytrain system. The skytrain, which celebrated its tenth anniversary the same year and lends its name to the film's Thai and English titles, is prominently featured throughout the story.
The film was criticized for its loose plot, but critics felt that young middle-class female Bangkokians could identify with the contemporary setting. The film was financially successful, earning 57 million baht on its opening weekend and over 140 million baht after four weeks.
One night, Li wakes up in the middle of night and goes to the roof of her house. She accidentally catches her maid and her boyfriend, who are also on the roof. Her maid's boyfriend calls his 'elder' (responsible adult), who turns out to be Loong. Li next meets Loong again at a BTS Skytrain station. This time Li accidentally breaks Loong's sunglasses. Li buys a replacement pair of sunglasses and writes her number on the box. She arranges to 'bump into' Loong to give him the new sunglasses. After waiting for Loong to call, Li goes to a video rental shop that Loong visits regularly. Li's neighbor, Plern, uses a trick to get Loong's mobile number, but later goes to work at the same video store instead of giving Loong's number to Li. As revenge, Li uses Plern's mobile to send messages to Plern's three boyfriends, inviting them all to the store at the same time. Loong comes into the shop, and accidentally drops his laptop.
Feeling responsible, Li take Loong's laptop to Ped's husband, but he can't fix it. Li goes to return it at the BTS office. When Loong finishes work, he finds Li, and they ride the BTS to get home. Loong decides to throw away the laptop and its bag. Li picks the bag up out of the garbage bin and takes it home. There are many things inside, including film negatives. Li has the film printed, and finds there are pictures of Loong with Kob Kavita (Taksaorn Paksukjareon), an actress in "Saint's Tear", a popular television series. The photo printing shop owner posts the pictures on the internet, as they are of a famous actress.
Li meets Loong again on a skytrain, and tells him that the pictures might have been published because of her, but Loong doesn't mind. Loong tells her that Kob is his ex-girlfriend, and they broke up because their time schedules didn't match. When the skytrain arrives at Ekkamai Station
, Li suggests that they watch the stars at the Bangkok Planetarium
and see an exhibition about a comet that will be appearing soon. Li asks Loong to watch the comet with her in Bangkok. Later, before the Songkran holidays, Loong asks Li to come celebrate by throwing water.
During the Songkran festival, Plern joins them. Li doesn't enjoy the festivities because of her. Li knows Loong's address, which is a guesthouse next to Chao Phraya River
. Li changes her clothes and goes to see Loong, and finds him asleep. Li falls asleep next to him. After she wakes up, Loong asks her to travel around Bangkok. Loong asks Li to come to family day at the BTS, as he can take her into the depot. Loong takes pictures, but Li damages the camera.
On the family day visit, Li finds out that Loong is leaving in two days time to spend two years studying in Germany
. They say goodbye on the Taksin Bridge
. Loong sends Li a box when he arrives in Germany. Inside is the mirror from her car from when they first met, the damaged sunglasses, Bangkok Planetarium tickets, and the damaged camera, with the memory card still inside. Li looks at the pictures. She rushes to Suvarnabhumi Airport
to try and stop Loong, but she is too late. On that day, the comet orbits to the earth. Loong watches the comet from on board his plane, while Li watches it as well.
Two years later, while going to work one evening, Li accidentally meets Loong on a BTS Skytrain. Loong works a day shift and has been back in Thailand for a few months. Both get off the Skytrain at Siam station
, which is the interchange station between the Sukhumvit Line and the Silom Line. Li goes downstairs to change to a different line and doesn't turn back to look at Loong. Li gets on her train, but the electricity goes out. Passengers call their friends or family to say the train has stopped. Li's phone rings; it is Loong. He asks Li to again celebrate Songkran. Li replies that she is free for the holidays. When electricity comes back on, Loong is on the same Skytrain, standing next to Li. He tells Li that she has his number now, and to record it.
underground system. The English title is abbreviated BTS to coincide with that of the skytrain system.
, Aphinan Bunrueangphanao noted the film's chick flick
elements, and how the casting of Theeradej as the male lead helped boosted the film's appeal. He noted that Cris skilfully represented the humorously exaggerated single urban female in her lead role, but criticized the film for its weak and loose plot. Nantakwang Sirasoontorn observed in Kom Chad Luek
that the film's most distinct theme was that of the female fantasy of meeting the perfect man. He noted that images of contemporary Bangkok life and GTH's carefully-planned marketing campaigns helped propel the film to success. He commended Cris's acting and criticized the weak plot.
s prior annual record of 14.9 million, and 57 million baht during the opening weekend. At four weeks, the film totalled over 140 million baht in theatrical earnings, surpassing Fan Chan
's prior GTH record of 137 million, and becoming by far the highest-grossing film of 2009.
Cinema of Thailand
The cinema of Thailand dates back to the early days of filmmaking, when King Chulalongkorn's 1897 visit to Bern, Switzerland was recorded by Francois-Henri Lavancy-Clarke. The film was then brought to Bangkok, where it was exhibited...
romantic comedy
Romantic Comedy
Romantic Comedy can refer to* Romantic Comedy , a 1979 play written by Bernard Slade* Romantic Comedy , a 1983 film adapted from the play and starring Dudley Moore and Mary Steenburgen...
film released by GTH on 15 October 2009. It was directed by Adisorn Tresirikasem and written by Navapol Thamrongruttanarit. The film tells the story of Mei Li (Cris Horwang), a thirty-year-old woman feeling desperate about being last among her friends to marry, and her relationship with Loong (Theeradej Wongpuapan), an engineer working on the BTS Skytrain system. The skytrain, which celebrated its tenth anniversary the same year and lends its name to the film's Thai and English titles, is prominently featured throughout the story.
The film was criticized for its loose plot, but critics felt that young middle-class female Bangkokians could identify with the contemporary setting. The film was financially successful, earning 57 million baht on its opening weekend and over 140 million baht after four weeks.
Plot
On Ped's (Panisara Pimpru) wedding night, her close friend, Mei li or Li (Cris Horwang), had drunk too much wine and had fallen asleep in Ped's hotel room. Li woke up in the early hours, she drove back to her home however she had a car accident on her way and this was where she met Loong (Theeradej Wongpuapan). When Li arrives home, her family scolds her, and her father forbids her to drive, so Li has to go to work by public transport.One night, Li wakes up in the middle of night and goes to the roof of her house. She accidentally catches her maid and her boyfriend, who are also on the roof. Her maid's boyfriend calls his 'elder' (responsible adult), who turns out to be Loong. Li next meets Loong again at a BTS Skytrain station. This time Li accidentally breaks Loong's sunglasses. Li buys a replacement pair of sunglasses and writes her number on the box. She arranges to 'bump into' Loong to give him the new sunglasses. After waiting for Loong to call, Li goes to a video rental shop that Loong visits regularly. Li's neighbor, Plern, uses a trick to get Loong's mobile number, but later goes to work at the same video store instead of giving Loong's number to Li. As revenge, Li uses Plern's mobile to send messages to Plern's three boyfriends, inviting them all to the store at the same time. Loong comes into the shop, and accidentally drops his laptop.
Feeling responsible, Li take Loong's laptop to Ped's husband, but he can't fix it. Li goes to return it at the BTS office. When Loong finishes work, he finds Li, and they ride the BTS to get home. Loong decides to throw away the laptop and its bag. Li picks the bag up out of the garbage bin and takes it home. There are many things inside, including film negatives. Li has the film printed, and finds there are pictures of Loong with Kob Kavita (Taksaorn Paksukjareon), an actress in "Saint's Tear", a popular television series. The photo printing shop owner posts the pictures on the internet, as they are of a famous actress.
Li meets Loong again on a skytrain, and tells him that the pictures might have been published because of her, but Loong doesn't mind. Loong tells her that Kob is his ex-girlfriend, and they broke up because their time schedules didn't match. When the skytrain arrives at Ekkamai Station
Ekkamai Station
Ekkamai station is a BTS skytrain station, on the in Watthana and Khlong Toei District, Bangkok, Thailand. The station is located on Sukhumvit Road at Soi Ekkamai or Ekamai next to the eastern bus terminal to eastern provinces...
, Li suggests that they watch the stars at the Bangkok Planetarium
Bangkok Planetarium
The Bangkok Planetarium is the oldest planetarium in Thailand. It is located on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok as part of the Science Center for Education, which is operated by the Department of Non-Formal Education of the Ministry of Education....
and see an exhibition about a comet that will be appearing soon. Li asks Loong to watch the comet with her in Bangkok. Later, before the Songkran holidays, Loong asks Li to come celebrate by throwing water.
During the Songkran festival, Plern joins them. Li doesn't enjoy the festivities because of her. Li knows Loong's address, which is a guesthouse next to Chao Phraya River
Chao Phraya River
The Chao Phraya is a major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It runs through Bangkok, the capital city, and then empties into the Gulf of Thailand.-Etymology:...
. Li changes her clothes and goes to see Loong, and finds him asleep. Li falls asleep next to him. After she wakes up, Loong asks her to travel around Bangkok. Loong asks Li to come to family day at the BTS, as he can take her into the depot. Loong takes pictures, but Li damages the camera.
On the family day visit, Li finds out that Loong is leaving in two days time to spend two years studying in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. They say goodbye on the Taksin Bridge
Taksin Bridge
The Taksin Bridge is a bridge crossing the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok, Thailand. The bridge was designed with a large gap between opposing traffic directions to accommodate a canceled mass transit system...
. Loong sends Li a box when he arrives in Germany. Inside is the mirror from her car from when they first met, the damaged sunglasses, Bangkok Planetarium tickets, and the damaged camera, with the memory card still inside. Li looks at the pictures. She rushes to Suvarnabhumi Airport
Suvarnabhumi Airport
Suvarnabhumi Airport , also known as Bangkok International Airport, is an international airport serving Bangkok, Thailand. It was officially opened for limited domestic flight service on 15 September 2006, and opened for most domestic and all international commercial flights on 28 September...
to try and stop Loong, but she is too late. On that day, the comet orbits to the earth. Loong watches the comet from on board his plane, while Li watches it as well.
Two years later, while going to work one evening, Li accidentally meets Loong on a BTS Skytrain. Loong works a day shift and has been back in Thailand for a few months. Both get off the Skytrain at Siam station
Siam station
Siam Station is the cross-platform interchange station for the BTS Skytrain in Pathum Wan district, Bangkok, Thailand. The largest and busiest station on the BTS with 40,000 - 50,000 passengers per day, it is where passengers on the and change trains....
, which is the interchange station between the Sukhumvit Line and the Silom Line. Li goes downstairs to change to a different line and doesn't turn back to look at Loong. Li gets on her train, but the electricity goes out. Passengers call their friends or family to say the train has stopped. Li's phone rings; it is Loong. He asks Li to again celebrate Songkran. Li replies that she is free for the holidays. When electricity comes back on, Loong is on the same Skytrain, standing next to Li. He tells Li that she has his number now, and to record it.
Production
Bangkok Traffic Love Story was sponsored by the BTS, and the movie includes many scenes depicting maintenance work on the system and its infrastructure. The film was promoted as part of BTS's tenth anniversary celebrations. The film's Thai name, Rod fai fah.. Ma Ha Na Ther, translates as "Skytrain, coming to meet you", and is a word play on Rot Fai Fa Maha Nakhon , which is the Thai name of the Bangkok MetroBangkok Metro
The MRT , sometimes referred to as the Bangkok Metro, is Bangkok's underground metro system in Thailand. It was constructed under a concession concept...
underground system. The English title is abbreviated BTS to coincide with that of the skytrain system.
Critical response
Critics mostly noted how Bangkok Traffic Love Story, despite its flaws, appropriately served and satisfied its target audience of Bangkok's young female adults. In Manager DailyManager Daily
Manager Daily is a Thai-language daily newspaper published in Bangkok and distributed nationwide. The paper is a broadsheet, and emphasizes political and business news. Founded by media-mogul Sondhi Limthongkul, it was an outgrowth of Manager Monthly magazine and Manager Weekly newspaper...
, Aphinan Bunrueangphanao noted the film's chick flick
Chick flick
Chick flick is a slang term for a film mainly dealing with love and romance designed to appeal to a female target audience. Although many types of films may be directed toward the female gender, "chick flick" is typically used only in reference to films that are heavy with emotion or contain themes...
elements, and how the casting of Theeradej as the male lead helped boosted the film's appeal. He noted that Cris skilfully represented the humorously exaggerated single urban female in her lead role, but criticized the film for its weak and loose plot. Nantakwang Sirasoontorn observed in Kom Chad Luek
Kom Chad Luek
Kom Chad Luek is a mass-circulation Thai-language daily newspaper launched in 2001 and published in Bangkok, Thailand by the Nation Multimedia Group...
that the film's most distinct theme was that of the female fantasy of meeting the perfect man. He noted that images of contemporary Bangkok life and GTH's carefully-planned marketing campaigns helped propel the film to success. He commended Cris's acting and criticized the weak plot.
Box office
Bangkok Traffic Love Story was a box office hit upon release, earning 15.1 million baht on its opening day, surpassing Phobia 2Phobia 2
Phobia 2 is a 2009 Thai horror film in five parts, directed by Songyos Sugmakanan, Banjong Pisanthanakun, Parkpoom Wongpoom, Visute Poolvoralaks, and Paween Purijitpanya.-Synopsis:...
s prior annual record of 14.9 million, and 57 million baht during the opening weekend. At four weeks, the film totalled over 140 million baht in theatrical earnings, surpassing Fan Chan
Fan Chan
Fan Chan is a 2003 Thai romantic film offering a nostalgic look back at the childhood friendship of a boy and girl growing up in a small town in Thailand in the 1980s. It was the debut film by six young screenwriter-directors, Vitcha Gojiew, Songyos Sugmakanan, Nithiwat Tharathorn, Witthaya...
's prior GTH record of 137 million, and becoming by far the highest-grossing film of 2009.
Awards
| Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|
| People's Choice Awards 2009 | Best Picture | |
| Best Actor (Theeradej Wongpuapan) | ||
| Best Actress (Cris Horwang) | ||
| 7th Kom Chad Luek Awards | Best Picture | |
| Best Director | ||
| Best Actress (Cris Horwang) | ||
| Top Awards 2009 | Best Picture | |
| Best Director | ||
| Best Actress (Cris Horwang) | ||
| Best Actor (Theeradej Wongpuapan) | ||
| Favourite Breakout Movie Actress (Ungsumalynn Sirapatsakmetha Ungsumalynn Sirapatsakmetha Ungsumalynn Sirapatsakmetha or Pattie , is a Thai film and television actress and model. She was a lead actress in Hormones or Pit Thoem Yai Hua Chai Wawun in 2008 and Bangkok Traffic Love Story in 2009.-Biography:Born in Bangkok, Thailand, Pattie has one elder brother and two elder... ) |
||
| 7th Starpics Thai Film Awards | Best Picture | |
| Best Actress (Cris Horwang) | ||
| 3rd Chalerm Thai Awards | Best Picture of the Year | |
| Best Actor of the Year (Theeradej Wongpuapan) | ||
| Best Actress of the Year (Cris Horwang) | ||
| 18th Bangkok Critics Assembly Awards | Best Director | |
| Best Actress (Cris Horwang) | ||
| Best Film Directing | ||
| Best Film Editing | ||
| Best Art Direction | ||
| The Highest-Grossing Film | ||
| 19th Thai National Film Awards | Best Actress (Cris Horwang) | |
| Best Costume Design | ||
| Best Makeup | ||
| 3rd Nine Entertain Awards | Best Picture of the Year | |
| Best Actress (Cris Horwang) | ||
| 7th Hamburger Awards | Best Picture | |
| Best Director | ||
| Best Actress (Cris Horwang) | ||
| Best Supporting Actress (Ungsumalynn Sirapatsakmetha Ungsumalynn Sirapatsakmetha Ungsumalynn Sirapatsakmetha or Pattie , is a Thai film and television actress and model. She was a lead actress in Hormones or Pit Thoem Yai Hua Chai Wawun in 2008 and Bangkok Traffic Love Story in 2009.-Biography:Born in Bangkok, Thailand, Pattie has one elder brother and two elder... ) |
||
| Favourite Scene-Stealing Actor (Charlie Trairat Charlie Trairat Charlie Trairat or 'NAK' is a Thai film actor. He is the youngest son of 6 siblings. He started his movie career since he was not even 1 y/o in the movie Once Upon A Time directed by Thai classic director 'Bhandit Rittakol.' He became well known after his co-starring role in Fan Chan , the Thai... ) |
||
| Favourite Scene-Stealing Actor (Sunny Suwanmethanont) | ||
| Best Original Song |