Thai Movie "The Legend of Suriyothai" will open at Plaza Frontenac on Friday, 7/25 FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA Presents "The Legend Of SURIYOTHAI" - A film by Chatri Chalerm Yukol. 142 minutes, Not Yet Rated, In Thai with English subtitles. A Sony Pictures Classics Release. A story of intrigue, romance and war set in a dramatic period of Thailand's history, "The Legend of Suriyothai" is based on actual events in 16th century Thailand. "The Legend of Suriyothai" begins during a peaceful era, but forces from both outside (Thailand's neighbor Burma to the north) and within, conspires to test the strength of the nation. Filmed at spectacular locations throughout Thailand, with a true cast of thousands, this Cecil B. DeMille-sized epic chronicles the life of Suriyothai, a beautiful young princess, who must choose between marrying her true love, a gallant young warrior named Piren, or doing her duty to wed Prince Tien, the son of the "second king," in a marriage arranged by their two very powerful families. As the story unfolds, the Thai kingdom of Ayuthaya is enjoying a period of peace and prosperity, but the country's stability will be threatened by corruption and civil war. Colossal battle scenes with archers atop elephants, bare-breasted amazon fighters armed with spears, and invading Burmese legions firing cannons, are photographed on a scale not seen in the cinema for decades. Written and directed by Chatri Chalerm Yukol, a prince in the Thai royal family, the film was made with the support of Thailand's Queen Sirikit. Palace intrigues and deceptions abound, with memorable characters and plot twists: one king who takes the throne in a coup d'etat is then deceived by his beautiful new wife, a former high courtesan named Srisudachan. She plots her husband's downfall, pushing her lover Worawongsa to usurp the throne, and to restore her clan, the U-Thong in its claim to power. A band of loyalists joins Princess Suriyothai to assassinate the pretenders Srisudachan and Worawongsa, and to restore the monarchy in a daring sneak attack. Tien leaves the priesthood to become king, and to reunify Thailand. In a dramatic finale to the film, the Burmese invade Ayuthaya. Queen Suriyothai heroically rides an elephant into battle and dies in a valiant effort to save both her country and her husband's life. The life of Suriyothai has become a legend. Historical Notes Spanning more than half a century, Suriyothai is a story of a country's survival. It depicts the history of the Thai kingdom Ayuthaya from the reign of King Ramathibodhi II to the great battle with King Tabinshwethi of Burma in 1548. Chatri Chalerm Yukol Prince Chatri Chalerm Yukol is one of Thailand's pioneering filmmakers and an international representative of Asian cinema. Prince Chatri was born on November 29, 1942, a son of HRH Anusorn and Mom Ubon Yukol. He was educated at Geelong Grammar School in Australia and continued his education at UCLA in Los Angeles, where he majored in Geology. His first contact with motion pictures was when he was very young - both of his parents were early supporters of the Thai film industry. His father made the film "Lavo"(1938) before Prince Chatri Chalerm was born. While Prince Chatri Chalerm was in Los Angeles he apprenticed under director/producer Merian C. Cooper ("Chang," "King Kong," "The Quiet Man," "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon," "The Searchers"). Prince Chatri Chalerm first worked in the film industry as a cameraman on a number of Thai films. He made his debut as a director and writer in television. "Out of the Dark" was the first feature length film that Prince Chatri Chalerm directed. This was followed by "Doctor Karn." Prince Chatri Chalerm launched the career of Thailand's leading actor Sorapong Chatri and has received Thailand's Best Director Award. Since then, he has directed several other films and television programs,including "The Angel," "The Colonel," The Violent Breed, "The Yellow Sky," "The Citizen," "Last Love," "Gunman," "The Elephant Keeper, " "The Song Of Chaophaya," "Power Road," "Sia Dai," and "The Box." Prince Chatri Chalerm has won numerous awards as director, screenwriter, and editor. His films are shown frequently at international film festivals. Production Facts Yukol is a member of the Thai royal family; he carries the title of prince. Original Thai version was released in Thailand on July 12, 2001. It broke all box office records. Film was funded and largely supported by the Queen of Thailand for the purpose of educating a new generation of Thais about their history. Film was researched for 5 years. 17 months were spent in actual production. The Queen of Thailand personally inaugurated the first day of photography. Battle sequences - Thai army and navy were conscripted by the thousands. 160 elephants were used in the production. The International crew, included a Czech and Polish camera department, American and English sound department, English composer. All props were made from scratch; including authentic 16th century European, Thai and Burmese weapons. Locations (including palaces and royal grounds) were actual historical sites. Many scenes were shot in and around the ruins of the ancient capital Ayutthaya. 3500 extras were used in the battle scenes. 400 people on crew. 1400 roles of film shot (more than 1/2 million feet of film). 263 hours of sound recorded. The 6-channel Dolby digital soundtrack was edited and mixed and Francis Coppola's American Zoetrope post facility in the Napa Valley.