Movies - Nang Nak

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	Movies - Nang Nak

Nang Nak is a romantic tragedy and horror film directed by Nonzee Nimibutr in 1999 through Buddy Film and Video Production Co. in Thailand. It features the life of a devoted ghost wife and the unsuspecting husband. Particularly poignant in the film is the devotion of the wife to her husband. A particularly impressive and eerie scene is where the husband (Mak) sees his wife extend her arm all the way to the ground from the elevated hut.

Plot

In rural village in Thailand, Mak (Winai Kraibatur) is sent to fight in a war and leaves his pregnant wife, Nak (Intira Jaroenpura). Mak is injured, and barely survives. He returns home to his doting wife and child, or so he thinks. Mysterious events occur around the village.

A friend visits and sees Mak living together with Nak. The villagers, knowing that Nak died in childbirth several months prevously, realize what is happening, that Mak is spellbound by Nak's ghost. People who attempt to tell Mak, or who know too much, are killed by Nak's ghost, who becomes more active in her aggression due to her inability to accept her early death and her frantic desire to stay with her husband.

Toward the end, Mak discovers what is happening, and shocked, flees to the local temple. The villagers attempt several solutions, including burning down the house and and in the end summon a ghost banisher to destroy her forehead (this would destroy her soul as well as the ghost).

The country's most respected Buddhist monk (in the film Somdej Toh) arrives in the final moments, takes charge and in a tearful farewell Nak repents, leaving her husband to live his life. Somdejto has the center of her forehead cut out and gives it to her husband for safekeeping who then finally becomes a monk. The epilogue states that the her husband wore the artifact to the end of his days, where it was passed on (through at least one King), and eventually became lost.

Background

The story of Mae Nak Phra Khanong is famous and a favorite among Thai people. There is a shrine dedicated to at On Nut, Sukhumvit Soi 77, Bangkok.

The tale has been depicted on film numerous times since the silent era, with one of the most famous being Mae Nak Pra Kanong in 1958. Even after this 1999 version, British filmmaker Mark Duffeld directed a remake in 2005 called The Ghost of Mae Nak. There also is an opera, Mae Naak, by Thai composer Somtow Sucharitkul.

Nonzee's version of the tale remains the best known worldwide. It is interesting for a Western audience, portraying a people and way of life that is completely unknown to most Westerners. Yet the story deals with universal themes and translates extremely well between cultures.

Cast

Intira Jaroenpura as Nak
Winai Kraibutr as Mak

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Nang Nak ]

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