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‘One for the Road’ – Journey of young love

The work is directed by Baz Piriyoon and produced by Wong Kar-wai. One for the Road tells the story of Boss (Tor Thanapop), a Thai bar owner in New York, who leads a carefree lifestyle. He returns to Thailand to reunite with his best friend Aoop (Ice Nattarat) after Boss learns that Aood has terminal leukemia. Boss decides with his friend to fulfill his last wish: to visit all of Aood’s ex-girlfriends to say goodbye to them. The climax of the film is pushed up when Aoop tells Boss about Prim (Violette Wautier), the girl who has a close relationship with the two.

Through the conversation of the couple in the present, the film is interwoven with flashbacks of youth. The film reveals Aoop’s love affairs. Two friends roam around the country in a vintage car, the property left to him by Aoop’s father after his death. Three love stories stretch from Nakhon Ratchasima, Samut Songkhram to Chiang Mai, Pattaya. Each story is a journey in Thailand, integrated with the context of Aoop’s meeting and dating in New York, USA. The first is Alice (Ploi Horwang), a dancer with fiery red hair. Next is Noona (Aokbab Chutimon), a capable and ambitious actress with a career. Finally, there is Roong (Noon Siraphun), a photographer.

Aood did not reveal to his ex that he was going to die. He used the excuse to return some souvenirs to his girlfriend before settling down in the US. Details of gifts containing emotional energy between Aoop and the characters in order to deepen each girl’s personality and the love of both. The filmmaker reveals three relationships that the audience knows will end, giving viewers a sense of curiosity about Aoop’s love story. Since then, the film explores the pain and trauma of breaking up.

The film has a non-linear narrative. Slices of the past opened up the American dream a few years ago of two young Thais. The couple comes from two different classes, Aoop is a less prominent guy, Boss has economic conditions. One went to America to earn money to support himself, while the other set foot in a foreign country because he obeyed the call of love. Both are lonely, lack of love, carry nostalgia for family and homeland.

The director drew inspiration from the story of his close friend Sorapol Lloyd Chatchaiyan’s battle with cancer. On page EasternKicks, Baz Poonpiriya said his feelings when making the work: “For me, life is like a journey, a long road trip. Sometimes you have people to join you, but there are times when you have to send them off. No matter what, you still have to move on and always keep their image in your heart.”

Also in an interview with Asian Movie Pulse, Poonpiriya said:One for the Road like a love letter” to his country. The story in New York comes from director Poonpiriya’s own personal experiences when he studied abroad for a long time. The work is not only in the style of Nattawut Poonpiriya who succeeds with Bad Genius (2017), but also interwoven with the romantic, sad style of Chinese director Wong Kar-wai.

Like Wong Kar-wai, Poonpiriya lets the music kick in at key moments in the film. In their first reunion, Aood hugs his ex-girlfriend Prim while dancing Tiny Dancer by Elton John. Copy Father and Son of Cat Stevens plays as Aood scatters his father’s ashes as he crosses the bridge, ending his repentance for not attending his funeral. Music is used by Baz not only as a background but also as a “character” of the work. Incorporating music into the scenes shows the intelligence and sophistication of the director, and increases the emotions of the audience.

The two main actors Tor Thanapop and Ice Nattarat acted at a full level. During the quarrel scenes, the movie actor Hormones (Age of Rebellion) has better acting than Ice. However, because of exploiting many background stories of the characters, the film circuit is interrupted. Every new detail the filmmaker gives the audience is not really convincing compared to the first half of the work. Telling three love stories but not providing their time together also confuses viewers.

During the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, One for the Road received the Special Jury Prize for Creative Vision. Page Nerdophiles commented: “The work tells a romantic and poetic story, imbued with personal nostalgia”.

Que Chi