Handle Me With Care
Encyclopedia
'Handle Me With Care
aka. 三手仔手記 (Hong Kong Title)
aka. 一路上有手 (Taiwanese Title)
is a 2008 Thai
romantic drama film
directed by Kongdej Jaturanrasamee
.
to Bangkok
who meets a young woman and the two experience various misadventures and grow closer together.
, the three-week-old Thai martial arts film, Chocolate
and a Thai comedy, Valentine, which had been released the week before. It remained in fourth place the following week but then dropped to No. 19 in its third weekend.
Local critical response was mixed. Bangkok Post
film critic Kong Rithdee called the film "wearisome", and said that though the film has "nice moments ... the script is too shipshape, maybe too busy with its thematic messages, and it's not easy to sympathise with Kwan, who obviously has never heard of worse handicaps. Writer-director Kongdej Jaturanrasamee is a better director when he allows his films to be wackier.".
ThaiCinema.org's reviewers praised the performance by actress Supaksorn Chaimongkol
, as well as the intricate "hand talent" effects - Kwan's third hand was played by an actual actor, rather than special effects. But the reviewers said the film contained too many elements and tended to be draggy in places.
The film was screened at the 2008 Hong Kong International Film Festival
, where it was reviewed by Maggie Lee of the Hollywood Reporter, who echoed the criticisms that the film had too many elements. "Director Kongdej Jaturanrasamee is in two minds about turning his script into Jim Carrey
-like slapstick, a candy floss romance with a dash of magical fantasy, or an offbeat road movie. He handles none of these generic variations with enough care, leaving each dangling like an unwanted arm."
Russell Edwards of Variety
also said the problem was the script, which "like many comedies with a sentimental streak, gets lost in mawkishness ... the idiosyncratic "Handle" becomes too slow and self-pitying".
The film also played at the 2008 Far East Film Festival in Udine
, Italy
and in June 2008 at the Filmfest München in Munich
, Germany
.
- 32nd Hong Kong International Film Festival
2008, Hong Kong (17 March-6 April 2008)
- 10th Udine Far East Film Festival 2008, Udine, Italy (18–26 April 2008)
- 26th Filmfest Munchen, Munich Film Festival 2008, Germany (20–28 June 2008)
- Montreal Fantasia Festival
2008, Canada (3–21 July 2008)
- 2nd Chungmuro International Film Festival 2008, Korea (3–11 September 2008)
- Bangkok International Film Festival
2008, Thailand (23–30 September 2008)
- 2008 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, Taiwan (6–21 November 2008)
- Osaka Asian Film Festival 2009, Osaka, Japan (13–16 March 2009)
- Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival
2009, Pittsburgh, PA, USA (8–17 May 2009)
aka. 三手仔手記 (Hong Kong Title)
aka. 一路上有手 (Taiwanese Title)
is a 2008 Thai
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 drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by Kongdej Jaturanrasamee
Kongdej Jaturanrasamee
Kongdej Jaturanrasamee is a Thai screenwriter and film director. His screenplays include The Letter, Tom-Yum-Goong, Noo Hin: The Movie and Me ... Myself. His own films include Sayew and Midnight My Love.-Education, early career:...
.
Plot
The story is about a three-armed man on a journey from LampangLampang
Lampang, also called Nakhon Lampang to differentiate from Lampang Province, is the third largest town in northern Thailand and capital of Lampang Province and the Lampang district. Traditional names for Lampang include Wiang Lakon and Khelang Nakhon. The city is still growing rapidly as trading...
to Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
who meets a young woman and the two experience various misadventures and grow closer together.
Release and reception
Handle Me With Care opened in Thailand cinemas on February 21, 2008. It was No. 4 at the box office on opening weekend, behind the newly released Hollywood film, JumperJumper
-Clothing:*Sweater or heavy sweater pulled on over the head, used in the UK and Commonwealth*Jumper , in the USA, a sleeveless, collarless dress, known elsewhere as a pinafore or pinafore dress* Part of the uniform of the United States Navy...
, the three-week-old Thai martial arts film, Chocolate
Chocolate (2008 film)
Chocolate , also known as Zen, Warrior Within, is a 2008 Thai martial arts film starring Yanin "Jeeja" Vismistananda in her debut film performance. It is directed by Prachya Pinkaew, with martial arts choreography by Panna Rittikrai...
and a Thai comedy, Valentine, which had been released the week before. It remained in fourth place the following week but then dropped to No. 19 in its third weekend.
Local critical response was mixed. Bangkok Post
Bangkok Post
The Bangkok Post is a broadsheet, English-language daily newspaper published in Bangkok, Thailand. The first issue was sold on August 1, 1946. It had four pages and cost 1 baht, a considerable amount at the time....
film critic Kong Rithdee called the film "wearisome", and said that though the film has "nice moments ... the script is too shipshape, maybe too busy with its thematic messages, and it's not easy to sympathise with Kwan, who obviously has never heard of worse handicaps. Writer-director Kongdej Jaturanrasamee is a better director when he allows his films to be wackier.".
ThaiCinema.org's reviewers praised the performance by actress Supaksorn Chaimongkol
Supaksorn Chaimongkol
Supaksorn Chaimongkol on December 2, 1982, in Bangkok, Thailand is a Thai model and actress. Her nickname is Kratae .Her film roles include Kunpan: Legend of the Warlord, Art of the Devil and Andaman Girl, all under director Thanit Jitnukul.In 2007, she starred in the spy-action comedy, Chai Lai,...
, as well as the intricate "hand talent" effects - Kwan's third hand was played by an actual actor, rather than special effects. But the reviewers said the film contained too many elements and tended to be draggy in places.
The film was screened at the 2008 Hong Kong International Film Festival
Hong Kong International Film Festival
The Hong Kong International Film Festival is a platform for filmmakers, film professionals and filmgoers from all over the world to launch and experience new film work. There are seminars, conferences, exhibitions, and parties celebrating the festival community...
, where it was reviewed by Maggie Lee of the Hollywood Reporter, who echoed the criticisms that the film had too many elements. "Director Kongdej Jaturanrasamee is in two minds about turning his script into Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey
James Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and comedian. He has received two Golden Globe Awards and has also been nominated on four occasions. Carrey began comedy in 1979, performing at Yuk Yuk's in Toronto, Ontario...
-like slapstick, a candy floss romance with a dash of magical fantasy, or an offbeat road movie. He handles none of these generic variations with enough care, leaving each dangling like an unwanted arm."
Russell Edwards of Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
also said the problem was the script, which "like many comedies with a sentimental streak, gets lost in mawkishness ... the idiosyncratic "Handle" becomes too slow and self-pitying".
The film also played at the 2008 Far East Film Festival in Udine
Udine
Udine is a city and comune in northeastern Italy, in the middle of Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, between the Adriatic sea and the Alps , less than 40 km from the Slovenian border. Its population was 99,439 in 2009, and that of its urban area was 175,000.- History :Udine is the historical...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and in June 2008 at the Filmfest München in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, 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...
.
Festivals
Handle Me With Care has been shown at film festivals as followings:- 32nd Hong Kong International Film Festival
Hong Kong International Film Festival
The Hong Kong International Film Festival is a platform for filmmakers, film professionals and filmgoers from all over the world to launch and experience new film work. There are seminars, conferences, exhibitions, and parties celebrating the festival community...
2008, Hong Kong (17 March-6 April 2008)
- 10th Udine Far East Film Festival 2008, Udine, Italy (18–26 April 2008)
- 26th Filmfest Munchen, Munich Film Festival 2008, Germany (20–28 June 2008)
- Montreal Fantasia Festival
Fantasia Festival
Fantasia International Film Festival is a genre film festival that has been based mainly in Montreal since its founding in 1996...
2008, Canada (3–21 July 2008)
- 2nd Chungmuro International Film Festival 2008, Korea (3–11 September 2008)
- Bangkok International Film Festival
Bangkok International Film Festival
The Bangkok International Film Festival is an international film festival held annually in Bangkok, Thailand, since 2003. In addition to film screenings, seminars, gala events and the Golden Kinnaree Awards.-First years:...
2008, Thailand (23–30 September 2008)
- 2008 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, Taiwan (6–21 November 2008)
- Osaka Asian Film Festival 2009, Osaka, Japan (13–16 March 2009)
- Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival
Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival
The Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival is a week long film festival founded in 2006 by filmmaker and artist Harish Saluja and held every May during Asian American Heritage Month in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to show mostly recent films and music by artists with Asian ethnic origins, such as...
2009, Pittsburgh, PA, USA (8–17 May 2009)