The Overture

SYNOPSIS

Inspired by the life of maestro Luang Pradith Phairao, the storied master of the ranard-ek - Thailand's traditional wooden xylophone. The Overture is a boldly conceived, stunningly beautiful story bursting with color, energy and music.

Sorn, a spectacularly gifted musical prodigy, longs to compete in the ecstatic musical competitions pitting Thailand's late 19th century ranard-ek players against one another. But when rival musicians murder his older brother, Sorn¹s family forbids the young performer from ever playing again. Beseeching his parents to let him carry on for his fallen brother while surreptitiously studying on his own, Sorn fights to balance his all-consuming need to win with his responsibility to the traditions and loyalties he has promised to uphold. The Overture deftly braids parallel narratives, documenting Sorn's musical rebirth and coming of age in turn of the century Siam with his adult struggle against the Thai government's ban of the art he masters in post-WWII Bangkok. Though decades apart, Young Sorn's reckless ambition and Old Sorn¹s courageous resistance seamlessly combine into a single life in which arrogant youth becomes defiant maturity, and into a cinematic journey that "skillfully creates emotional depth"(Variety).

Director Itthisoontorn Vichailak, "lenses both city and country scenes with lush depth" (SF Bay Guardian), bringing the cut-throat competition and seething ambitions behind the golden age of Thailand¹s native music traditions to vivid life. Dynamic, sentimental, heroic, earthy, triumphant, brawling and lyrical, The Overture is a victoriously entertaining saga and a passionate historical biography as exotic, engaging and nimbly performed as the music that drives it.

A Film by ITTHISOONTORN VICHAILAK
THE OVERTURE
ANUCHIT SAPHANPHONG ADUL DULYARAT SUMETH ONG-ARD PHOOVARIT PHUMPUANG ARRATEE TANMAHAPRAN
Written by PEERASAK SAKSIRI, DOLKAMOL SATTATIP, and ITTHISOONTORN VICHAILAK
Cinematography NATTAWUT KITTIKHUN
Production Design RACH-CHANON KHAYANNAGAN, KIATTICHAI KHEREESSRI and NAWACHAT SUMPAO-NGEN
Editing by ITTHISOONTORN VICHAILAK
Music NICK CHAIYAPAK
Producers PISAMAI LAODARA, ITTHISOONTORN VICHAILAK and CHATRICHALERM YUKOL
Directed by ITTHISOONTORN VICHAILAK
© 2004 Sahamongkol Film International

REVIEWS

"Exhilarating. builds a Vibrant energy with its theme of music enriching the soul." - Russell edwards, Variety

"The genuine sweetness of the actor portraying sorn as a young man reflects the sweetness of the entire film." - Renata Poly, Pacific Sun

AWARDS

OFFICIAL selection TORONTO - London - rotterdam

DVD Features

• Theatrical Trailer
• Optional English subtitles
• Enhanced for 16x9 TVs