Thai prince's trilogy looks to make history
Prince Chatrichalerm: Wants to make an epic like `The Lord of The Rings'. Picture: www.kodak.com
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
PRINCE Chatrichalerm Yukol, a cousin of the king of Thailand, has directed more than 20 feature films since 1971, with many forays into television as well.
This year, he has already released two movies, King Naresuan Part I and II, with Part III coming out in December, and this trilogy just may prove to be the crown jewels in his royal repertoire.
The first film, which opened on January 17, enjoyed Thailand's biggest opening weekend ever, earning 120 million baht (US$3.5 million) over four days, and it will likely become the best-selling movie in Thai history. (The film has grossed just over US$10 million to date).
Thailand's still-reigning box office king is 2001's Suriyothai, also directed by the prince, which took in US$11.8 million.
The second instalment of Naresuan was released on February 15 and has made about US$7 million, with the final film in the trilogy due out December 5, the birthday of Thailand's king, Bhumibol Adulyadej.
The total budget for the trio of films is US$20 million the largest for a Thai movie project.
Naresuan takes place around the turn of the 17th century, and Suriyothai a few decades before that. Both are epic historical dramas that depict Siam's wars with Burma and also offer a window into the honour and betrayals within the royal politics of the era, when Siam was made up of different kingdoms.
Prince Chatrichalerm says he wanted to make the Naresuan films in the mould of the Lord of the Rings or Star Wars trilogies, and the production has taken him three years and counting.
He maintains it would be impossible to tell the account of Naresuan, who is a legend in Thai history, in just one film.
"Everybody in Thailand knows the story of (his life)," the prince says. "But we tried to do it in a way no one could have imagined." Reuters
This year, he has already released two movies, King Naresuan Part I and II, with Part III coming out in December, and this trilogy just may prove to be the crown jewels in his royal repertoire.
The first film, which opened on January 17, enjoyed Thailand's biggest opening weekend ever, earning 120 million baht (US$3.5 million) over four days, and it will likely become the best-selling movie in Thai history. (The film has grossed just over US$10 million to date).
Thailand's still-reigning box office king is 2001's Suriyothai, also directed by the prince, which took in US$11.8 million.
The second instalment of Naresuan was released on February 15 and has made about US$7 million, with the final film in the trilogy due out December 5, the birthday of Thailand's king, Bhumibol Adulyadej.
The total budget for the trio of films is US$20 million the largest for a Thai movie project.
Naresuan takes place around the turn of the 17th century, and Suriyothai a few decades before that. Both are epic historical dramas that depict Siam's wars with Burma and also offer a window into the honour and betrayals within the royal politics of the era, when Siam was made up of different kingdoms.
Prince Chatrichalerm says he wanted to make the Naresuan films in the mould of the Lord of the Rings or Star Wars trilogies, and the production has taken him three years and counting.
He maintains it would be impossible to tell the account of Naresuan, who is a legend in Thai history, in just one film.
"Everybody in Thailand knows the story of (his life)," the prince says. "But we tried to do it in a way no one could have imagined." Reuters
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