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Bang Rajan
Bang Rajan
Directed by	Tanit Jitnukul
Written by	Tanit Jitnukul; Kongkiat Khomsiri; Patikarn Phejmunee; Buinthin Thuaykaew
Produced by	Nonzee Nimibutr; Adirek Wattaleela; Brian L. Marcar; Prasarn Maleenont
Starring	Bin Bunluerit; Winai Kraibutr; Jaran Ngamdee; Bongkoj Khongmalai
Cinematography	Wichian Ruangwijchayakul
Edited by	Sunij Asavinikul
Music by	Chatchai Pongprapaphan
Distributed by	Film Bangkok; Magnolia Pictures Kyivnaukfilm
Release date	December 29, 2000 (Thailand);
Running time	127 minutes
Country	Thailand
Language	Thai
Budget	50 million baht

Bang Rajan (Thai: บางระจัน) is a 2000 Thai historical drama film depicting the battles of the Siamese village of Bang Rachan (alternate spelling) against the Burmese invaders in 1767, as remembered in popular Thai culture. Cross-checking the story with the events reported by the Burmese sources indicates that the purported events at Bang Rachan are likely a merger of at least two independent events that took place in the war.

The film was directed and co-written by Thanit Jitnukul. In 2004, the film was "presented" by Oliver Stone in a limited release in US cinemas.

Plot

The Burmese army is seeking to invade Ayutthaya to block the invasion in Bang Rachan. The forces are at first led by elderly Nai Taen, who is injured in an early battle. They use all their resources to prepare the village for a siege, including melting down all available metal farming implements into a crudely constructed cannon. Lacking horses, the village drunkard, Nai Thongmen, mounts an old water buffalo and rides the draft animal into battle.

Cast

Winai Kraibutr as Nai In
Bin Bunluerit as Nai Thongmen
Jaran Ngamdee as Nai Chan Nuad Kheo
Chumphorn Thepphithak as Nai Taen
Bongkoj Khongmalai as E Sa
Teerayut Pratchbamroon as Luang Por Dhammachote
Phutharit Prombandal as Pan Ruang
Suntri Maila-or as E Tang On

Historical accuracy

The plot follows the Thai version of events. According to Thai tradition, the Burmese northern invasion army led by Gen. Ne Myo Thihapate was held up for five months at Bang Rachan, a small village northwest of Ayutthaya by a group of simple villagers.^[1] However, not all the points of this traditional Thai story could be true as the entire northern campaign took just over five months (mid-August 1765 to late January 1766), and the northern army was still stuck in Phitsanulok, in north-central Siam, as late as December 1765. Burmese sources do mention "petty chiefs" stalling the northern army's advance but it was early in the campaign along the Wang River in northern Siam (not near Ayutthaya) during the rainy season (August–October 1765). The Burmese general who was actually stationed near Ayutthaya was not Thihapate but rather Maha Nawrahta, whose southern army was waiting for the northern army to show up to attack the Siamese capital.^[2] It appears that the three verified events—petty chiefs resisting Thihapate in the north, Thihapate's campaign period of five months, and Maha Nawrahta staking out by Ayutthaya—have merged to create this popular mythology.

Production and reception

Bang Rajan was made on a budget of around 50 million baht, which is about four times the cost of other Thai productions being made at the time. It was a box-office hit in Thailand, earning more than 151 million baht.

The film was screened at several film festivals in 2001, including the Seattle International Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, the Vancouver International Film Festival, and the Hawaii International Film Festival. At the Asia Pacific Film Festival, it won for best art direction. It was screen at the Fantasia Festival in Montreal in 2003, where it won second prize for Best Asian Film.

The Battle of Bang Rajan was also depicted in a 1966 Thai film, starring Sombat Metanee in a role that won him a best actor honors at the "Golden Doll" Awards. The award was personally handed to Sombat by King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The long-horned water buffalo featured in the film died of old age shortly after the film was released and was feted in a lavish funeral ceremony.

References

^ Wyatt, p. 117
^ Phayre, pp. 188-189

Bibliography

Phayre, Lt. Gen. Sir Arthur P. (1883). History of Burma (1967 ed.). London: Susil Gupta.
Wyatt, David K. (2003). History of Thailand (2 ed.). Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-08475-7.