The Overture

The Overture

This movie won a lot of awards in Thailand in 2004. They include: 

2004 Thailand National Film Association Awards

2004 Bangkok Critics Assembly Awards

2004 Star Entertainment Award

The Overture Poster

          The movie starts with the childhood life of Sorn. The scene shows him following a butterfly which then stops at a Thai instrument called ranat-ek. This part shows a destiny of Sorn and his music life.

Ranak-ek

          Sorn has a brother who is a gifted classical musician. However, this directly causes his rivalry with other musicians. And that leads to his brother’s death. His death becomes the saddest thing to his family and because of that, Sorn is not allowed to play the ranat-ek anymore. However, the passion of him doesn’t stop him from playing the ranat-ek. Without his father's notice, he keeps practicing the instrument in the jungle every night.

Sorn is playing ranat-ek

          Because of his talent with the instrument and also a monk’s advice, his father decides to let him keep learning. Time flies and Sorn grows up. He becomes arrogant and even misses his practice very often. His father wants him to learn not to be too self-satisfied. Therefore, in one ensemble, his father asks him to play another instrument called Kong-wong instead of the ranat-ek. When their team is playing, the judge starts to realize that Sorn is not the one who is playing the ranat-ek and asks the band to start all over again. Sorn becomes the one who plays on the ranat-ek this time. Obviously, his skills are much more better than other players. 

Sorn falls in love with the girl.

          The scene cuts to another day. In a village, a music team is setting up for the performance. Sorn replaces the ranat-ek player's position. On the other side across the courtyard, another ranat-ek player who is dressed in black becomes the competitor to Sorn. The background music and the video effects help enhance the fierceness of the performer. From that day, Sorn loses his confidence and he wants to be like him.

          He starts to give up on himself. However, he is sent to the palace for more proper  music training. That is when he meets a pretty girl. What a typical scene! Falling flowers with a pretty girl’s charming smile. He starts to fall in love with the girl. At the same time, an older man who names Master Tian is sent to teach him. The way that Master Tien teaches is a bit strict to him. There are even a few days when Sorn runs away from the palace and hides in his hometown. 

          After that, Sorn goes back to the palace again. Here comes the time for the kingdom’s musical competition. Sorn meets again the performer who is dressed in black. This time, finally Sorn overcomes the fierceness of his rival and finally wins. The music that they play almost killed me but I really admire their skills and how they play ranat-ek.

Sorn is the only player who plays on rant-ek in the competition.

The fierce looking of the performer who dressed black.

          This movie adds in some old times which show that Sorn (played as an old man by Adul Dulyarat) as a respected teacher. Sadly, this movie ends up with Sorn’s death after he plays the ranak-ek. I am really glad that the last performance of Sorn before he dies is not stopped by the dictator who sets the rule of forbidding traditional Thai Music, dance or even theatre. It is touching that when the moment Sorn goes against the rule and plays the ranat-ek, every one who hears it comes out from their house and listen to it.

Close up of Sorn playing ranat-ek.