Real doctor plays a movie doctor
By Suwitcha Chaiyong, photos by Varuth Hiranyatheb and courtesy of The Palazzo Khemarat
The new movie Embracing Khemarat is about life and love in the small town of Khemarat, along the Mekong River. Inspired by the experiences of Ubon Ratchathani physician Ritt Pokkrittayahariboon, the film stars the first runner-up in Miss Thailand 2009, Kobkullaya Chuengprasertsrit (Phuen), who now works as a doctor.
Phuen plays Praekwan, a doctor who relocates to Khemarat. As she starts her new life, she falls in love with Kong (Anuwat Choocherdratana), the owner of a local coffee shop and resort. Unfortunately, Kong is still heart-broken from his previous relationship and isn't ready to start dating again.
Student Weekly met up with 30-year-old Phuen to talk about her acting and how her real-life experience as a doctor compares to the movie.
Student Weekly: Did you gain any acting experience when you were a student?
Phuen: Yes, I was in a stage play at university. The story was inspired by the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West. We sold a lot of tickets and I won the best actress award from the university.
Student Weekly: Did you want to become a professional actress after that?
Phuen: No. As a medical student I enjoyed activities like acting, athletics and being a cheerleader, but during the Miss Thailand pageant, I realised that I really wanted to be a doctor. I missed my patients. A smile from them brightens up my world.
Student Weekly: What was your most difficult experience as a medical student?
Phuen: In my fourth year, one of my patients had lung cancer. I knew he would live longer if he agreed to use a breathing tube, but he refused. He asked me to take all the equipment off him because he wanted to go home. When I was finished, I couldn't hide my feelings any longer and I ran away to cry.
Student Weekly: Is it true that you initially turned down the role in Embracing Khemarat?
Phuen: Yes, I'd never played the main character in a movie before. But after I read the script, I felt that I could relate to Praekwan because I've worked in a rural area too. I also wanted to go sightseeing in Khemarat. [Laughs.]
Student Weekly: How would you describe Khemarat?
Phuen: It's an adorable little town surrounded by nature. There's a street market with old architecture which reminds me of Pai and Chiang Khan. When I was there I felt full of energy.
Student Weekly: What are the people like?
Pheun: They're very friendly and welcoming to visitors. When I asked some local people how to get to the hospital, they took me there. They also asked if I needed food or something to drink and made sure I was comfortable.
Student Weekly: What was the atmosphere like at the hospital in the movie?
Phuen: We filmed in an actual hospital, so the atmosphere was realistic. During a scene where we were delivering a baby, we had a real nurse and a pregnant patient who gave birth on set! I had to cut the umbilical cord. The mother called the baby Orm Kod which means embrace.
Student Weekly: Did you enjoy the romantic scenes?
Phuen: I was very worried about them. I don't have much romantic experience and my character had to express her feelings without speaking. It was hard.
Student Weekly: Why should SW readers see Embracing Khemarat?
Phuen: The things you see in the movie are real, including the caf?, the resort and the hospital. Also, Dr. Ritt wrote a great script. When people see the movie, I'm sure they'll fall in love with it.
physician (n): a doctor, especially one who is a specialist in general medicine and not surgery
relocate (v): to move to a new place to work
medical (adj): connected with illness and injury and their treatment
breathing tube (n): a tube that lets air and oxygen from a machine flow into the lungs
umbilical cord (n): a long piece of tissue that connects a baby to its mother before it is born and is cut at the moment of birth
embrace (v): to put your arms around somebody as a sign of love or friendship
