Short film gets a miracle makeover
By Suwitcha Chaiyong
Photos courtesy of S-Well Studio
Did you know
The car accident scene was filmed at a cemetery in Chiang Mai.
The new feature film Pa Ti Han (Miracle) was developed from an intriguing short film. The indie movie was rewritten from a 29-minute short film called Circle Way, which was screened at film contests and seminars around the kingdom. Director Pong Raksak, who made both films, was inspired after seeing a wayside shrine which made him think about a spirit and its replacement.
However, Miracle isn’t a ghost movie. It is a romantic movie about a couple, Pa (Nirin Phonlawan) and Ti (Nine Tanawat), who have a car accident on the day Pa tells Ti that she wants to break up with him. Pa is the only one who survives the accident. After an unhappy marriage and divorce, she travels to Japan, where she meets Han (Win Chawin) and is surprised to find that he is similar to Ti in many ways.
Ahead of the movie’s release in cinemas on March 27, Student Weekly caught up with Nirin Phonlawan on the phone. The 20-year-old rookie actress told us about her debut movie.
Student Weekly: Why were you interested in acting?
Nirin: I’ve liked to express myself since I was young. At the age of five, I participated in a district beauty pageant and won. I always wanted to be an actress, but before this movie I worked as a model.
Student Weekly: How did you get the role in this movie?
Nirin: Someone recommended me for an audition. He said the script may be suitable for me because I am sensitive and cry easily. This role features a lot of dramatic scenes with crying.
Student Weekly: Could you cry easily on the movie set?
Nirin: No. The hardest scene was filmed in a factory. I had to look at a picture of the character Ti and cry. But I felt pressure because a lot of crew members were looking at me. I couldn’t cry, so I had to listen to a sad song which made me cry.
Student Weekly: What was it like to be in a leading role for the first time?
Nirin: It was hard, especially in the dramatic scenes. I not only had to cry on the set, I had to show a lot of facial expressions and had long dialogues.
Student Weekly: Was it hard playing Pa?
Nirin: Yes. She is more mature than me. The director told me to act calm, although the character is mad. He said a silent expression was scarier. I also believe there is this kind of person in real life. I agree with her decision on marriage, because we should look at our future.
Student Weekly: What is the difference between the original short film and this feature film?
Nirin: The script provides more details about each character. In Miracle, my character shows her background as a university student, which the short film doesn’t have.
Student Weekly: Is the film a ghost story?
Nirin: No. There is a plot about a spirit which takes over an available body, but it is a story about romance and miracles.
Student Weekly: Did you enjoy filming in Japan?
Nirin: Yes. Japan was my favourite location for this film, especially at a cherry blossom garden. I was there in April and the trees had bloomed. The weather was also nice.
Student Weekly: Why should people watch this film?
Nirin: Everyone can relate to the plot about love. We sometimes get confused or make our own choices. This is more than a love story. It provides thoughtful ideas.
Vocabulary
- replacement (n): the process of replacing something with something else
pageant (n): a competition for young women in which they are judged on their beauty and other qualities
expression (n): the act of saying what you think, or showing how you feel using words or actions
bloom (v): When a flower blooms, it opens or is open, and when a plant or tree blooms it produces flowers
thoughtful (adj): carefully considering things
