First Image From Pen-Ek Ratanaruang's Ploy!
While I personally gound his Invisible Waves to be rather disappointing I am still a big fan of Pen-Ek Ratanaruang's films and have very high hopes for the upcoming Ploy. The film reunites Ratanaruang with the star of 6ixtynin9 - her first film since that picture - and also stars Shutter's Ananda Everingham who has quickly established himself as Thailand's top leading man.
Click here for a large version of the image and continue on for the film's full press release, with synopsis included.
Hong Kong, March 20, 2007 – Fortissimo Films has announced that they are partnering with Five Star Production to co-produce acclaimed Thai director Pen-ek Ratanaruang’s (MONRAK TRANSISTOR, LAST LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE, INVISIBLE WAVES) new film PLOY. The erotic film attempts to explore jealousy and its origins in a serious, exotic yet playful way, evaluating the theme by employing three characters and one location. The film marks the return of Lalita Panyopas to film following Pen-ek’s breakthrough hit 6IXTYNIN9 and also features Ananda Everingham, star of horror hit SHUTTER. Fortissimo Films will handle international sales. The deal was done between Fortissimo’s Co-Chairmen Wouter Barendrecht and Michael J Werner and Five Star Production’s President Chareon Iamphungphorn.
Synopsis: A violent death of a relative brings Thai restaurant owner Wit (Pornwut Sarasin) and his wife, Dang (Lalita Panyopas), back to Bangkok from America for the first time in 7 years. As soon as they arrive in Bangkok at 5.30 am Wit and Dang check into a five-star hotel downtown. Once they are inside the room Wit discovers he is out of cigarettes and goes down to the lobby bar in search of some. After getting his pack of cigarettes from the bartender Wit decides to order a cup of coffee and smoke his cigarette there. The bar is empty except for the bartender and the girl at the table in the dark corner. The girl is Ploy (Apinya Sakuljaroensuk). This is how our little tale of love and jealousy begins – a highly detailed psychological drama with three strangers locked inside one hotel room. It starts with subtle suspicions and builds up to hilarious jealousy, as the appearance of the young woman triggers devastating consequences for the couple.
On making the announcement Fortissimo’s Wouter Barendrecht commented: "The combination of director Pen-ek Ratanaruang and Five Star Production is a team that we cannot resist working with. Pen-ek this time has embarked on a project which is intimate yet provocative. His signature style is still very evident in PLOY, and we also warmly welcome the return to film of the sensational Lalita Panyopas, the leading lady of 6IXTYNIN9.”
While Five Star’s Chareon Iamphungphorn added: “PLOY marks director Pen-ek Ratanaruang’s return to scriptwriting and the style of filmmaking that has not been seen since his breakthrough hit 6IXTYNIN9. At the same time, the maturation in his craft is clearly evident. We are proud to be working once again with the filmmaker and Fortissimo Films on this film, and we also believe that the audience will not be disappointed by the result.”
Founded in 1973 Five Star Production has developed incredibly quickly with a purpose to make quality films for Thai people. During this time Five Star has become one of the leading movie production companies in Thailand and now stands as the Home of Thai Movies. Five Star’s library comprises roughly 240 films, made by over 100 Thai film directors including many of the most famous directors working in Thailand today. Five Star was one of the first Thai film production companies to present films at international festivals beginning with THE WAR LORD in 1976. TEARS OF THE BLACK TIGER, by Wisit Sasanatieng, was the first Thai film to screen in Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival in 2001, followed by MONRAK TRANSISTOR from Pen-ek Ratanaruang which screened as part of the Official Selection in Director’s Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival 2002. LAST LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE by Pen-ek Ratanaruang garnered many awards, including best actor at the Venice Film Festival 2003. Recent films include THE UNSEEABLE by Wisit Sasanatieng and INVISIBLE WAVES by Pen-ek Ratanaruang, which was in competition at the Berlin Film Festival last year. Five Star will continue to produce Thai Films for the Thai people while continuing to focus on producing and distributing quality films for the enjoyment of Thai and international movie goers.
Fortissimo Films is an international film, television and video sales organization specializing in the production, presentation, promotion and distribution of unique, award winning and innovative feature films from independent film makers from all over the world. For more information, please see www.fortissimofilms.com.
