Kunpan

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Movie
German title Kunpan
Original title ขุนแผน
Country of production Thailand
original language Thai
Publishing year 2002
length 87 minutes
Age rating FSK No youth approval
Rod
Director Tanit Jitnukul
script Sarawut In-phrom,
Kongkiat Khomsiri,
Marisa Mallikamarl
production Nicky Tamrong
music Chartchai Pongprapapan
camera Teerawat Rujintham
cut Seree Phongnithi
occupation

Kunpan , also Kunpan - The Spirit Warrior ( Thai : ขุนแผน - pronunciation: [kʰǔn pʰɛ̌ːn] , correct transcription: "Khun Phaen") is a Thai historical film from 2002, a film adaptation of the epic Khun Chang Khun Phaen of classical Thai literature . Directed by Tanit Jitnukul .

action

The action takes place in the affluent city of Suphan Buri in the kingdom of Ayutthaya . From her comes the bravest and most capable general of his time - Khun Krai Phonphai, who is protected by a magical mantra . One day the deserved fighter falls from grace because of an ineffectiveness and is sentenced to death on the king's orders. Concerned that the king's henchmen will take revenge on their young son Kaeo, the wife of the convicted Nang Thong Prasi hands the toddler over to the monks of Wat Pa Lelai , who teach him martial arts as well as magical skills.

Years later, Kaeo meets his former childhood sweetheart, the attractive Phim, at festivities during the Songkran festival in the temple, with whom he immediately falls in love. However, their mutual happiness does not last long when his beloved, for whom he takes off his monk's robe and who is fiercely courted by the simple-minded Chang, discovers him having a flirt with another girl. The two marry anyway. The offended Chang decides to fight for Phim and blackens Kaeo to the king so that he demands his services for an upcoming armed conflict in the north of the country at Lan Na . In the ensuing acts of war, the gifted fighter triumphs for his father. In gratitude, King Phanwasa elevated him to the nobility with the title "Khun Phaen the Great". Furthermore, the ruler guarantees him not only wealth but also various privileges.

While her husband is away, Phim throws himself into work and eventually falls ill from loneliness. After her recovery, the abbot changes her name to the auspicious "Nang Wanthong". A little later, at the insistence of her clan, she marries the wealthy rival Chang, who continues to woo her. Before that, Chang had succeeded in convincing Phim's and Wanthong's family of the alleged death of Kaeo.

Months later, Khun Phaen returns to Suphan Buri as a celebrated war hero with his new wife, Laothong. Here he learns of the recent marriage of his childhood sweetheart, to which he reacts bitter and angry and finally even threatens Chang. Nevertheless, he and Wanthong have a private rendezvous. The horned husband Chang takes revenge on the war hero by lying to the king and claiming an alleged breach of loyalty to Khun Phaen. His former sponsor then removed him from all military offices, took his second wife as a concubine and had him publicly humiliated.

Full of desperation and deprived of all privileges, Kaeo leaves the city and turns to black magic . He practices his magical abilities, which make his father invincible in battle. He also makes an alliance with demons. He finds temporary shelter with a group of bandits, from among whom he chooses his third wife Buakhli, who Kaeo kills a little later in order to free an evil demon she is carrying.

Strengthened by the dark forces, Kaeo starts a campaign of revenge against everyone who denounced him at the time. First he kidnaps his pregnant Phim and then travels to the king to convince him of his innocence. However, he is not entirely convinced of Kaeo's statements, so his plan fails and he is put in prison for several years.

Several years pass. Meanwhile, Plai Ngam, Kaeo's son and Phim, is a growing young man who, like his male ancestors, fends off victorious invaders who threaten the country and kingdom. Plai Ngam is supported with plenty of magic by his father, whom the king pardoned especially for the armed man.

At the end of the film, Kaeo is raised to the nobility again as Khun Phaen alongside his son. Khun Phaen finally breaks free from all violence and renounces his demons. But after years of spatial separation, it is too late for his great love. Because his first wife, Wanthong, cannot make a clear decision in favor of Kaeo or Chang, she is executed at the king's behest. In the last scene Khun Phaen tries to save her, but she is beheaded under the eyes of her son and Kaeos.

Reviews

“The opulently equipped historical film depicts a fictional national novel. The almost unmanageable arsenal of people makes orientation difficult, as does the ambivalent character of the protagonist, who cannot gain any sympathy values. "

- Lexicon of international film

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Kunpan. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used