Movies

Strong and spicy

By Tatat Bunnag, Photos by Varuth Hirunyatheb

Som tam gives muscleman a fighting chance

• Did you know •

You might have heard of Popeye, the popular American cartoon about a skinny sailor who instantly transforms into a fighting muscleman after eating spinach.

A similar story can be found in the new comedy film Som Tam from director Nontakorn Taweesuk. The action has been flavoured to suit Thai tastes, with a hero who powers up with spicy som tam salad instead of spinach.

The action in Som Tam was choreographed by Panna Rittikrai, known for his tour de force stunt work on Tom-Yum-Goong and Ong-Bak.

Som Tam stars Aussie actor and former WWE wrestler Nathan Jones. Nathan played a heavy in Tom-Yum-Goong and has also acted in Hollywood blockbusters like Troy, The Condemned and Fearless.

In Som Tam, Nathan plays a wimpy, timid foreigner living on the streets of Pattaya. When two little girls (Narawan �Grace� Techaratanaprasert and Sasisa �Kat� Jindamanee) feed him spicy som tam, he transforms into a raging red monster with uncontrollable strength.

Student Weekly recently met up with Nathan to talk about Som Tam, due to hit cinemas on June 5.

STUDENT WEEKLY: This is your second Thai film. How do you feel about the movie and your leading role?

Nathan: I smiled right away when I read the script.

I feel really satisfied with the plot because it�s the first time that I get to fight in a movie and win! [Laughs.]

STUDENT WEEKLY: Was it hard to do a comedy after working on so many action films?

Nathan: Not at all. I enjoy doing comedies and different kinds of movies. It doesn�t have to be full-on action all the time.

I like movies that have variety � action, comedy and drama all mixed together.

STUDENT WEEKLY: There are scenes in the film where you make and eat som tam. Had you ever tried it before making the film?

Nathan: Never. I can�t really eat spicy food at all, so I was a bit worried when I was told that I�d have to eat it in the film.

STUDENT WEEKLY: How was acting with child stars Kat and Grace?

Nathan: It was great. I don�t have any problem working with kids, and they�re both great actresses. Even though I�m a big guy, I still have a kid inside me. [Laughs.]

STUDENT WEEKLY: What�s your actual size?

Nathan: I�m 208 centimeters tall and I weigh 159 kilogrammes.

STUDENT WEEKLY: Back in the �90s you were a famous champion wrestler. Why did you decide to quit that career?

Nathan: I was putting myself under a lot of pressure at the time, and a new opportunity came up to move into the film industry. I made the change, and I really enjoy my acting career.

I don�t plan to quit wrestling indefinitely, though. I�m pretty sure that I�ll return to the ring some time in the future.

	muscleman (n): a big, strong man, especially one employed to protect somebody or something spinach (n): a vegetable with large dark green leaves that are usually eaten cooked choreograph (v): to design and arrange the movements of dances or actors in a show or film tour de force (n): an extremely skilful performance or achievement heavy (n): a large, strong man whose job is to protect a person or place, often using violence wimpy (adj): weak, scared and unconfident timid (adj): shy and nervous; not brave transform (v): to completely change the appearance or character of something or somebody raging (adj): very powerful indefinitely (adv): for a period of time with no fixed limit