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Suriyothai (2001)

Starring Piyapas Bhirombhakdi, Sarunyu Wongkrachang, Chatchai Plengpanich, Mai Charoenpura.  Cinematography by Anupap Buachand, Stanislav Dorsic, and Igor Luther.  Edited by Francis Ford Coppola, Chatrichalerm Yukol, and Patamanadda Yukol. Produced by Kamla Yukol. Written and Directed by Prince Chatrichalerm Yukol.

Set in sixteenth century Thailand, we are introduced to Suriyothai (played by Piyapas Bhirombhakdi) as a young woman. She is faced with the dilemma of marrying the man she loves (played by Chatchai Plengpanich), and marrying the man she has been arranged to be with (played by Sarunyu Wongkrachang).  Fearing that a break in the arrangement would cause tension between regions, she chooses the later.

As time passes by the once peaceful area is torn apart by corruption and civil war.  After years of bloody conflict, the internal threats are finally eliminated and Suriyothai is crowned queen. But sadly the harmony is short lived.  The imminent threat of a Burmese invasion from the north has finally materialized, and it takes everyone, including the women, to defend the great Ayothaya.

The idea of making a film featuring some aspect of Thailand’s history was suggested to Prince Chatrichalerm Yukol by Her Majesty, Queen Sirkit.  She was concerned that because history had been removed from the curriculum in the Thai school system, its people were forgetting the past of their nation.  Together they decided to create a film depicting the life of Queen Suriyothai.

The story of Suriyothai’s death is a popular legend in Thailand, but very few people know anything about her life.  Yukol researched the related history for five years prior to Suriyothai’s production, and used creative liberties only when the records were vague. To effectively tell the story, Yuko needed to entirely recreate period. Largely funded by the Thai government, he went about creating the largest and most expensive film in Thailand’s history.  He literally used thousands of cast members, hundreds of crew members, and dozens of computer graphics to rebuild sixteenth century Ayothaya.

Chatrichalerm Yukol and Francis Ford Coppola are both alumni of UCLA’s film school.  Coppola has been impressed with Yukol’s work for years and was excited offer his services for Suriyothai.  He flew to Thailand during production, and helped in any way that he could, but his main contribution came in after it wrapped. At his vineyard in Napa Valley, Coppola helped edit the film into what he felt would be more applicable to a western audience and cut the American release down by almost forty five minutes. But the lost footage isn’t missed as the final product is an amazing spectacle to see.

The acting seems a bit dry, and the story is packed with dozens of characters that can be difficult to sort out at times, but the sets and battle sequences are absolutely stunning. Suriyothai truly seems set in its period with its meticulously recreated props, costumes, and weapons. It has gone on to become the highest grossing film in Thailand’s history.

Budget: $11,000,000

Total US Gross: $454,255

Genre: War

Runtime: 142 Minutes

US Release Date: 6/20/03

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Awards: none

Tagline: Siam.  1528. A Woman Warrior Changed The Course Of History.

Quote: “But if anything should happen to our king, how will we survive? Our lives are not important. My husband and I have no care for our lives.  Our primary concern is the people of Ayothaya and Ayothaya itself.  If the king should die, we will die at the hands of the Burmese.”

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