"Ong Bak" Inspiration" The seeds of "Ong Bak’" were first planted in the mind of director Prachya Pinkaew when, as a teenager, he sat in his native village, watching the films of Thai action movie hero Panna Rithikrai. Panna was the Bruce Lee of Thailand. Prachya was most impressed with ‘Born to Fight’, which Panna starred in, directed and produced. What made Panna special was that, in his films, all the fight scenes were performed ‘for real’, without the aid of special effects and camera tricks. This contrasted sharply with the more stylized Hong Kong martial arts movies that were popular in Thailand at the time. The young Prachya vowed that, when he became a filmmaker, he would make a movie that would make the same kind of impact that ‘Born To Fight’ had made on him.
Prachya subsequently moved to Bangkok and became a director. When he finally met
Panna in person, they found they shared a common dream of using film to bring reater
glory to Thai martial arts. “Since I was a youngster, I never did anything by halves,” says Panna. “I invested my own money in my early films. I didn’t really know anything about filmmaking when I made ‘Born To Fight’. I just wanted to find a way to express my life experiences on film.”
Panna in person, they found they shared a common dream of using film to bring reater
glory to Thai martial arts. “Since I was a youngster, I never did anything by halves,” says Panna. “I invested my own money in my early films. I didn’t really know anything about filmmaking when I made ‘Born To Fight’. I just wanted to find a way to express my life experiences on film.”
As Panna got older, he realized that he needed to find new blood to perform the action
scenes in his films, but none of his discoveries worked out. “In the end, I was left training only one young guy, with no real hope of his ever becoming a movie star.”
Prachya asked to meet Panna’s sole remaining prot?g?, a young man named Tony Jaa.
Tony had been training under Panna, in both martial art and movie stunts, since the age of 10. In him, Panna had found his perfect cinematic alter ego. After seeing Tony Jaa in action, Prachya set about crafting a vehicle that would do justice to both his idol and his young prot?g?.
scenes in his films, but none of his discoveries worked out. “In the end, I was left training only one young guy, with no real hope of his ever becoming a movie star.”
Prachya asked to meet Panna’s sole remaining prot?g?, a young man named Tony Jaa.
Tony had been training under Panna, in both martial art and movie stunts, since the age of 10. In him, Panna had found his perfect cinematic alter ego. After seeing Tony Jaa in action, Prachya set about crafting a vehicle that would do justice to both his idol and his young prot?g?.
“For four years, I worked very closely with Panna and Tony,” reveals Prachya. “It
became more than a film to us. We became like family. I realized that I couldn’t approach (‘Ong Bak’) as just another piece of filmmaking. For Panna and Tony, this was the fulfillment of a life-long dream, and I wanted to share their energy and determination with the audience.”
became more than a film to us. We became like family. I realized that I couldn’t approach (‘Ong Bak’) as just another piece of filmmaking. For Panna and Tony, this was the fulfillment of a life-long dream, and I wanted to share their energy and determination with the audience.”
Synopsis
The film’s title, ‘Ong Bak’, refers to a Buddha statue kept in the Nong Pra-du temple in rural Thailand. It dates from the time of the Thai/Burmese war, 200 years ago. The
villagers believe Ong Bak is imbued with magical powers that will keep them safe from harm.
villagers believe Ong Bak is imbued with magical powers that will keep them safe from harm.
One dark night, a former native of the village, Don (Wannakit Siriput), has his men cut the head of the statute to win favour with ruthless crime boss Khom Tuan. The locals regard the theft as a catastrophe, and seek a champion to retrieve their lost treasure. They find their man in Ting (Tony Jaa), an orphaned youngster raised at the local temple, and schooled by Pra Kru, a kindly monk, in an ancient system of Muay Thai: ‘Nine Body Weapons’.
Ting travels to the mean streets of Bangkok, where he finds that the head of Ong Bak is in the possession of a local gang boss, Khom Tuan. Ting meets another native of Nong Pra-du, George, and a street waif, Muay Lek. He enlists their help in his quest. The ensuing adventures sees our heroes engage in fistfights, running street battles and an intricate chase sequence featuring ‘tuk-tuks’, the famous three-wheeled Thai taxis.
To recover the Buddha head, Ting is forced to compete in illegal street fights, taking on both local and foreign opponents. His superior skills make him a natural champion, and he even agrees to throw a fight with Burmese boxer Saming when he’s promised the return of Ong Bak.
To recover the Buddha head, Ting is forced to compete in illegal street fights, taking on both local and foreign opponents. His superior skills make him a natural champion, and he even agrees to throw a fight with Burmese boxer Saming when he’s promised the return of Ong Bak.
In the end, Khom Tuan betrays Ting, leading to a final encounter in a cave situated on the border between Thailand and Burma. Ting is forced to use every ounce of his courage and stamina in a final martial arts battle of truly epic proportions.
Jaa’s character
Ting
Ting (Tony Jaa) is an orphan, raised by the kind-hearted monk Pra Kru at Nong Pradu
temple. Pra Kru trains Ting in the ancient art of Muay Thai, but insists that Ting promise
never to use his skills to cause anyone harm. Instilled by Par Kru with true Buddhist
teachings, Ting is determined to follow a good path in life. The theft of the Ong Bak
Buddha statue sends Ting on a quest that will test both his physical and spiritual
development to the utmost…
temple. Pra Kru trains Ting in the ancient art of Muay Thai, but insists that Ting promise
never to use his skills to cause anyone harm. Instilled by Par Kru with true Buddhist
teachings, Ting is determined to follow a good path in life. The theft of the Ong Bak
Buddha statue sends Ting on a quest that will test both his physical and spiritual
development to the utmost…
AWARDS
Best Asian Film, (Premi Orient Express-Casa Asia) Award - Sitges Fantastic FilmFestival 2003
Best Asian Action Film (Action Asia 13th Rue Lotus) - Festival Du Film Asiatique De Deauville, France 2004
Thailand Spotlight Section, Opening Film - Stockholm International Film Festival 2003
Official Selection – Midnight Madness Program - Toronto International Film
Festival 2003, Open Cinema - Pusan International Film Festival 2003, Rotterdam International Film Festival 2004
Festival 2003, Open Cinema - Pusan International Film Festival 2003, Rotterdam International Film Festival 2004
credit : www.iamtonyjaa.com
