Country Hotel (1957)

it's getting more crazy

I went in not knowing a thing about this so it was a steady stream of surprises and quite engaging. Some good use of music and shadows in the cinematography as well.

Only my second 1950s Thai film so it was also interesting to learn a bit more about the history of Thai movie-making, like how many elements I'm familiar with from the last 25 years of Thai films were already there in 1957 and that an exaggerated kRap isn't a modern affectation from cheeky young men.

It's fun, it moves, there's a sense of freedom to it despite the single set, and in the end, the story it eventually finds its way into was good too.

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While I have watched more Thai series than Thai films, I can safely say that this film feels very Thai. The humor that tends towards silliness and slapstick, the script that joyfully disregards any notion of a "genre", as well as the tendency to explore the world in the first half (small as it is -- the entire film takes place in the hotel lobby and its single room) and then only really start the plot in the second half.

The last aspect is something the film doesn't do very elegantly, obviously to the confusion and disappointment of other viewers -- they feel that it's almost two different films, one a silly comedy, the other a serious crime thriller. I think it's certainly no "Le Salaire de la Peur" or even a "High Noon", but it does have its own charm and rhythm, if you're comfortable with the Thai way of switching moods within a story. Also, I felt that the comedy was still there, mainly carried by Noi, but also in some of the interactions between the bandits.

There is some romance, which I (and Noi!) felt came out of nowhere, but it seems that a romance is part and parcel if you have two main characters in the appropriate age range. (Also, it was kind of a long-term-setup for another joke at the end, so I don't mind too much.)

I grew to like the characters -- Noi, of course, who charmed me instantly, but also the prickly Chana and the wilful Riam. Even some of the villains were kind of sympathetic, although I agreed with Noi that "they [should] just kill each other".


When I looked up more information about the film, I learned that it's one of the first Thai films which were filmed on 35mmfilm, which means it has synchronized sound, i.e. that the actors' voices were recorded along with the image. Usually, Thai film makers usually used a cheaper sort of film, and the voices were either dubbed later or sometimes even dubbed by live voice actors in front of the audience. What a wild concept! I never knew that this was a thing.
I suspect that this was one of the reasons why there's so much singing and music in the first half -- Rattana Pestonji, who wrote, directed and produced this film, seems to have used the possibilities of the more expensive film stock to the fullest.

Rattana Pestonji is, according to Wikipedia, "the father of modern Thai film" -- which could explain why some aspects of "Country Hotel" feel very familiar. I will definitely check out his other works if I can find them, it should be worth it to understand where modern Thai films come from.


The copy that is available via the Film Archive Thailand on YouTube seems to not have been digitally restored, there are quite a few artefacts from degradation of the original film material. At times, the background score overwhelms the actors' voices, and there are strange cuts here and there. But to expect modern standards would only be an exercise in frustration.


Was it good?
It's not global top-tier in comparison to high-budget films from the same time. But I do think that it was made with love, and with all the expertise and abilities the crew and the actors had. The script and how the story is developed is very Thai, and that might not be to everybody's taste or feel unusual or surprising to Western viewers.

Did I like it?
Yes! I loved the comedy, I grew to like the characters, and I wanted to know how it would end. Afterwards, I felt fullfilled, and just wanted to sit a few minutes, not doing anything.
It was definitely entertaining and educational, and well worth my time.

Who would I recommend it to?
To anyone who is interested in Thai / SE Asian film history, or in Thai films in general.

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