Wonderful Town is the first Thai movie that I have seen. I like trying new things,
but I knew that it would be difficult to understand without understanding Thai culture. I have been close to Thailand in Northern Malaysia, but they are very different places. Wonderful Town is one of the slowest movies that I have ever seen and its ending is unexpected and not understandable without a lot of thought. With that being said, I think that Wonderful Town is a good movie. What is the plotline?
It is the story of reformed drunk musician, Ton (Supphaisit Kansen) from the Bangkok, who is now an architect working in Southern Thailand to restore a hotel destroyed by the tsunami. He stays at a small local inn run by a woman, Na (Anchalee Saisootorn), who is the young matriarch of a family fractured by the tsunami.
The love story between Ton and Na progress very slowly, as most do in real life. Ton likes Na right away and his overtures to her are thoughtful and easy going. She slowly warms up to him, told by her wearing more colorful and stylish clothes. Her brother, Wit (Dul Yaambunying), notes the change in Na.
The devastation of the tsunami is shown in matter of fact moments. The destruction of hotels, homes, and families is just shown without elaboration. Na cares for her nephew and the hotel alone; partly because of the tsunami and partly because her brother, Wit , is a low level gangster.
I dare not tell you anything more. If you can tolerate the slow pace of this film, you will see the beauty of Southern Thailand and learn some things about the people who survived the tsunami as part of a beautiful puzzling movie.