Red Life (2023)

This isn’t a movie for everyone. If you are into themes exploring the darker parts of society, then this might be for you. Days later, I’m still recovering from how much this movie emotionally wrecked me. I’ve watched some happy stuff since, but this one is still with me.

The story follows two characters, Ter and Som. Their characters only ever briefly pass by each other on the streets, but their lives end up intertwining in a heartbreakingly tragic way. Within the first part of the movie, you already get the feeling of where all the characters will end up, but you can’t help but stay for them and hope things would turn out differently. The image of the fish tank and the last scene are gonna haunt me for some time.

Bank, Sydney and Jomjam did amazing in their roles. They made me feel so much for their characters. Bank lost weight for his role. I thought he just lost weight, but he actually did it for this role. This is my first time seeing Sydney and Jomjam, and it takes skills to portrays their characters. They both nailed it. I hope to see them all collab on a project again, hopefully a more happier one, so I can move on from this one lol.

I actually don’t have any criticisms for this movie. It was well executed given the characters, storyline and themes. The only thing I may want is for it to be a series instead, so we could have gotten more into the characters of Mild, Som’s mom and Peach. But again, stories like this won’t appeal to everyone, so maybe it was a safer bet to go the movie route.

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"Life is nothing but tragedy."

'Redlife' centers on two storylines that later on intersect in a tragic twist. The idea is not groundbreaking, but this film doesn't shy away from portraying the harsh realities of poverty and slum life. There’s a cleverly woven underlying theme of street gang, crime, drug use, girls' love, and prostitution, making it an intriguing watch for those seeking a glimpse into the gritty side of Bangkok.

Although the actors’ performances and the character arcs are commendable, the main plot falls a bit flat. The story of Ter and Som seems unpolished, with some noticeable plot holes that hinder its impact. Though it feels more like a melodrama, it lacks those poignant moments and depth that challenge you to reflect deeply on the hardship the characters are going through. The ending is rather confusing. Despite the flaws, this film has decent cinematography, depicting the sympathetic insight into the lives of the less fortunate in good visual detail.

If you're up for a mildly thrilling cinematic experience with some tragic stories, this film might be your cup of tea. For me, it's a one-time watch. I like the bleak/dark concept, but this film fails to deliver it well and make it impressive.

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