Film: Bang Rajan
Release date: 28th February 2005
Certificate: 15
Running time: 114 mins
Director: Tanit Jitnukul
Starring: Jaran Ngamdee, Winai Kraibutr, Theerayut Pratyabamrung, Bin Bunluerit, Bongkoj Khongmalai
Genre: Action/Drama/History/War
Studio: E1
Format: DVD
Country: Thailand
Historical epics could be considered the respectable face of action movies. The deeper the roots in historical events, the less they can be dismissed as just another excuse for bloody fight scenes. Bang Rajan boasts a budget four times that of the average Thai film, but when that figure still compares unfavourably to Hollywood’s more modest output, it begs the question: can this little epic mirror its David and Goliath subject matter?
In 18th century Siam, the mighty Burmese army marches on the country’s capital of Ayutthaya. Only the small village of Bang Rajan stands between them and complete military victory, and yet the indomitable villagers of this small hamlet defy the odds by rising up to stop the invaders in their tracks.
Aided by the forces of a mysterious moustachioed veteran, the town drunk and his enlisted water buffalo, the locals make a valiant final stand for their country in this historically-based war epic…
Tribal warriors running around speaking in a foreign-language and participating in gritty fight sequences are a staple of the Hollywood epic diet. The Last Of The Mohicans and Apocalypto are two notable standards of this particular sub-genre – but these are films represented by Western stars, either in-front or behind the camera, telling the story of someone else’s ancestors. Bang Rajan’s greatest appeal is in the authenticity of its mission statement. Sure, the writing and acting compete furiously to be the weakest element, but, rather than undermining the film, they stand as a testament to the genuine grass-roots level of the production. This is a film from a country with less than prolific cinematic output attempting to tell a story so grand that by rights they have no place taking on - just like the film’s heroes, they seem unable to recognise a losing battle when they see it.
To its credit, the action is impressively proficient, and the bloody battles are spectacularly visceral in their execution. Even when the numbers begin to swell, the direction remains sharp and controlled, and there is some ingenious camerawork, in what could easily have descended into just another jungle brawl. While violent, there is also an element of humour injected into the proceedings, and not only in unintentional doses of overacting from some of the supporting roles. When the hero, Nai Chan Nuad Kheo, and his fantastic facial hair make an appearance, the film really hits a peak, and it’s so endearing given the film’s unassuming development.
That said, Bang Rajan struggles to find a clear balance between its lofty historical aspirations and the lowest common-denominator combination of aggression and comedy. The plot never rises above the obvious and the film treads a confused ground between being too standard in its production for the art house audience, yet with too many idiosyncrasies to appeal on popular release – no doubt the success of Eastern epics such as Hero, alongside those aforementioned blockbusters, has allowed this one to sneak through into the UK marketplace.
The underdog, rag-tag band of peasant warriors is a story well-trodden both in the East and the West, and having been served in every flavour from 300 to Seven Samurai (then re-served as The Magnificent Seven), it’s quite refreshing to see the story being retold not so much from a new approach but rather from an old one, re-imagined through fresh-eyes too inexperienced to feel the need to include any twist or irony to the proceedings. The result is naively sincere, and all the more enjoyable for it.
Be aware, there is nothing new to see here. But if you’re open to watching a film that seems to discover every classic cliché as if for the first time, the experience is gleefully rewarding. JB
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