Queens of Langkasuka
Encyclopedia
Queens of Langkasuka is a 2008
Thai
historical fantasy adventure film directed by Nonzee Nimibutr
, and written by two-time S.E.A. Write Award
winner Win Lyovarin
.
Known as "Pirates Of Langkasuka" in the UK.http://www.lovefilm.com/film/Pirates-Of-Langkasuka/155477/
faces overthrow by the rebel Prince Rawai, who is allied with pirate captain Black Raven. The pirates attempt to capture some giant cannon
invented by Dutchman Janis Bree and Chinese inventor Lim Kium, but the Dutch ship carrying the cannon blows up and the cannons sink into the sea.
Meanwhile, an orphan sea gypsy boy named Pari is raised in a fishing village, which is constantly under attack by Black Raven's raiding parties. The boy, gifted in the magical art of Du Lum, is taken by his uncle Anjar to learn more of the magical ways of the ocean from White Ray, but the sage refuses to teach the boy. Nonetheless, Pari is soon communicating with the marine life. He grows into manhood and becomes a fighter against Black Raven's pirates.
Black Raven, also a practitioner in the Du Lum ocean magical arts, has been trying to raise the cannons from the depths of the sea.
Queen Hijau wants her own large cannons and seeks the inventor Lim Kium, who has been living in the sea gypsy fishing village. She sends away her sisters, Princess Ungu (The Purple Princess) and Princess Biru (The Blue Princess). They will be under the protection of the queen's loyal commander, the fierce silat
exponent Lord Jarang.
At the fishing village, Lord Jarang comes under attack. Pari aids Jarang in fighting off the pirates, and Jarang makes his escape. In the confusion, Princess Ungu is believed to have been killed, but she has actually been rescued by Pari and taken to White Ray's remote island.
There, a romance develops between Ungu and Pari, but neither are able to commit. Ungu is due to marry the Prince of Pahang
, an important ally of Langkasuka. And Pari is still tortured by the death of his childhood sweetheart at the hands of Black Raven's men.
In a cave on the island, Pari encounters Black Ray, an evil, unstable alter ego of White Ray, and Pari begins to learn more about Du Lum and the conflict between the black and white sides of the practice.
Eventually, all the forces - the rebel prince, the pirates, the ocean sorcerers, the queen and the princesses - will battle for the big cannon.
and Pattani separatism, and to tie the story in with the legend of Langkasuka
.
The film premiered at the 2008 Cannes Film Market to mixed reviews. Derek Elley of Variety
said the film lacked focus and at 133 minutes was too long. Maggie Lee of The Hollywood Reporter
was more upbeat, praising the sumptuous costume design and action sequences, but also said the film was too long.
Based on the reception from the industry press, studio Sahamongkol Film International
pushed for a shorter version of the film. The film's August 2008 release in Thai cinemas was postponed until October, with the director citing Thailand's unstable political atmosphere
.
A boost of confidence was given though, when the film was scheduled for the Venice Film Festival
, where it would play in a special out-of-competition midnight screening. Queens of Langkasuka was also the "gala opening" film for the 2008 Bangkok International Film Festival.
2008 in film
This is a list of all major films made in 2008.-Highest-grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 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...
historical fantasy adventure film directed by Nonzee Nimibutr
Nonzee Nimibutr
Nonzee Nimibutr is a Thai film director, film producer and screenwriter. Best known for his ghost thriller, Nang Nak, he is generally credited as the leader among a "New Wave" of Thai filmmakers that also includes Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, Wisit Sasanatieng and Apichatpong...
, and written by two-time S.E.A. Write Award
S.E.A. Write Award
The S.E.A. Write Award, or Southeast Asian Writers Award, is an award that has been presented annually since 1979 to poets and writers in Southeast Asia....
winner Win Lyovarin
Win Lyovarin
Win Lyovarin , is a Thai writer. He is a two-time winner of the S.E.A...
.
Known as "Pirates Of Langkasuka" in the UK.http://www.lovefilm.com/film/Pirates-Of-Langkasuka/155477/
Plot
Queen Hijau (The Green Queen) of PattaniPattani kingdom
Pattani or Sultanate of Pattani was a Malay sultanate that covered approximately the area of the modern Thai provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and much of the northern part of modern Malaysia. The King of Patani is believed to have converted to Islam some time during the 11th century...
faces overthrow by the rebel Prince Rawai, who is allied with pirate captain Black Raven. The pirates attempt to capture some giant cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
invented by Dutchman Janis Bree and Chinese inventor Lim Kium, but the Dutch ship carrying the cannon blows up and the cannons sink into the sea.
Meanwhile, an orphan sea gypsy boy named Pari is raised in a fishing village, which is constantly under attack by Black Raven's raiding parties. The boy, gifted in the magical art of Du Lum, is taken by his uncle Anjar to learn more of the magical ways of the ocean from White Ray, but the sage refuses to teach the boy. Nonetheless, Pari is soon communicating with the marine life. He grows into manhood and becomes a fighter against Black Raven's pirates.
Black Raven, also a practitioner in the Du Lum ocean magical arts, has been trying to raise the cannons from the depths of the sea.
Queen Hijau wants her own large cannons and seeks the inventor Lim Kium, who has been living in the sea gypsy fishing village. She sends away her sisters, Princess Ungu (The Purple Princess) and Princess Biru (The Blue Princess). They will be under the protection of the queen's loyal commander, the fierce silat
Silat
Silat Melayu is a blanket term for the types of silat created in peninsular Southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei and Singapore. The silat tradition has deep roots in Malay culture and can trace its origin to the dawn of Malay civilization, 2000 years ago...
exponent Lord Jarang.
At the fishing village, Lord Jarang comes under attack. Pari aids Jarang in fighting off the pirates, and Jarang makes his escape. In the confusion, Princess Ungu is believed to have been killed, but she has actually been rescued by Pari and taken to White Ray's remote island.
There, a romance develops between Ungu and Pari, but neither are able to commit. Ungu is due to marry the Prince of Pahang
Pahang
Pahang is the third largest state in Malaysia, after Sarawak and Sabah, occupying the huge Pahang River river basin. It is bordered to the north by Kelantan, to the west by Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, to the south by Johor and to the east by Terengganu and the South China Sea.Its state...
, an important ally of Langkasuka. And Pari is still tortured by the death of his childhood sweetheart at the hands of Black Raven's men.
In a cave on the island, Pari encounters Black Ray, an evil, unstable alter ego of White Ray, and Pari begins to learn more about Du Lum and the conflict between the black and white sides of the practice.
Eventually, all the forces - the rebel prince, the pirates, the ocean sorcerers, the queen and the princesses - will battle for the big cannon.
Cast
- Jarunee Suksawat as Queen Hijau
- Jacqueline Apithananon as Princess Biru
- Anna Ris as Princess Ungu
- Chupong ChangprungDan ChupongChupong Changprung is a Thai martial arts film actor. He is also known by his Westernized name, Dan Chupong...
as Lord Jarang - Ananda EveringhamAnanda EveringhamAnanda Everingham is a Laotian-Australian film actor who was born in Thailand. Working primarily in Thai films, he is best known for his lead role in the 2004 horror film, Shutter.-Biography:...
as Pari - Sorapong ChatreeSorapong ChatreeSorapong Chatree is a Thai film actor. He has frequently starred in the films of Prince Chatrichalerm Yukol, as well as in Cherd Songsri's classic romance, Plae Kao....
as White Ray/Black Ray - Jesdaporn PholdeeJesdaporn PholdeeJesadaporn Pholdee , is a Thai actor, model, and presenter....
as the Prince of Pahang - Winai KraibutrWinai KraibutrWinai Kraibutr is a Thai actor. He has appeared in a number of films that have achieved significant success at the Thai box office. He is considered a bankable star in Thailand and has achieved minor international exposure through the international release of Bang Rajan...
as Black Raven - Jakkrit Phanichphatikram as Lim Kium
- Andre Machielsen as Janis Bree
- Preecha Katkham as Anjar
- Kunanek Naiyanaprasert as Pari (youth)
- Suwinit PanjamawatSuwinit PanjamawatSuwinit Panjamawat is a Thai actor. His roles include the teenaged title character in Jan Dara by director Nonzee Nimibutr and as the youthful Dum in Tears of the Black Tiger by Wisit Sasanatieng. He also appears in Nonzee's segment in the Asian cinema horror film collaboration, "The Wheel"....
as Jarang's second in command - Manassanan Patcharasopachai
- Mesini Keawratri
- Ake Oree
- Thiti Micheli
- Attaporn Theemakorn
- Suppakorn Kitsuwan
- Arisa Sontirod
- Kamol Luangrojkul
Reception
Queens of Langkasuka, which went into production in 2005, was at first called Queens of Pattani, but the name was changed to avoid political connections to the South Thailand insurgencySouth Thailand insurgency
An ethnic separatist insurgency is taking place in Southern Thailand, predominantly in the Malay Pattani region, made up of the three southernmost provinces of Thailand. Violence has increasingly spilling over into other provinces...
and Pattani separatism, and to tie the story in with the legend of Langkasuka
Langkasuka
Langkasuka was an ancient Hindu Malay kingdom located in the Malay Peninsula...
.
The film premiered at the 2008 Cannes Film Market to mixed reviews. Derek Elley 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...
said the film lacked focus and at 133 minutes was too long. Maggie Lee of The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter
Formerly a daily trade magazine, The Hollywood Reporter re-launched in late 2010 as a unique hybrid publication serving the entertainment industry and a consumer audience...
was more upbeat, praising the sumptuous costume design and action sequences, but also said the film was too long.
Based on the reception from the industry press, studio Sahamongkol Film International
Sahamongkol Film International
Sahamongkol Film International Co. Ltd. is a Thai motion picture production and distribution company. It is the leading movie company in Thailand, ahead of GMM Grammy's GMM Tai Hub, Five Star Production and...
pushed for a shorter version of the film. The film's August 2008 release in Thai cinemas was postponed until October, with the director citing Thailand's unstable political atmosphere
Politics of Thailand
The politics of Thailand are currently conducted within the framework of a constitutional monarchy, whereby the Prime Minister is the head of government and a hereditary monarch is head of state. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislative branches.Thai kingdoms and late...
.
A boost of confidence was given though, when the film was scheduled for the Venice Film Festival
Venice Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
, where it would play in a special out-of-competition midnight screening. Queens of Langkasuka was also the "gala opening" film for the 2008 Bangkok International Film Festival.