Suwinit Panjamawat Movies

Magic and fierce rivalries set the stage in this epic-scale fantasy set in 17th Century Thailand. The Black Raven (Winai Kraibutr) is a fearsome pirate who has joined forces with a rogue prince to overthrow the rule of Queen Hijau of Pattani (Jarunee Suksawas). Needing weapons, the Black Raven and his crew set out to steal a cache of powerful cannons from Janis Bree (Andre Macchieisen), a Dutch master of firearms, and Lim Kium (Jakkrit Phanichphatikram), his Chinese right-hand man. The Raven's plan, however, goes awry, and the cannons sink to the bottom of the sea as a child named Pari is born in a village not far away. As the youngster grows to manhood, it becomes evident that Pari (Ananda Everingham) has a gift for magic, and his uncle Anjar (Preecha Katkham) arranges for him to learn the art at the hands of the gifted White Ray (Sorapong Chatree). As Pari hones his powers, he learns that his father died battling the Black Raven on the day he was born, and White Ray tells him it is his duty to bring justice against the pirate once he masters his magic. As Pari makes plans to put the Black Raven in his place, the pirate is making new plans to rescue the cannons he lost years ago, and Queen Hijau, sensing that revolt is afoot once again, approaches Lim Kium and asks if he can recreate Janis Bree's fabled weapons. Puenyai chom salat (aka Queens of Langkasuka) also stars Anna Ris and Jacqueline Apithananon as the Queen's daughters. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Widely considered Thailand's leading director of the late '90s, Nonzee Nimibutr spins this erotic drama based on one of that country's most popular and controversial literary works. Jan Dara was cursed from the beginning when his mother, Dara, died during childbirth. His autocratic, libidinous father, Khun Luang, cursed and abused the child, calling him a bastard. Meanwhile, Khun Luang dealt with his sudden widower status by engaging in perverse, licentious behavior, often right in front of a portrait of his late wife. When his mother's friend, Waad, comes to Khun Luang's estate to look after the child, the patriarch wastes no time in seducing her. Soon Waad bores Kaew, who Khun Luang teaches to hate Jan Dara. Later, the old man marries his former lover, the nymphomaniac Boonlueang, who teaches the teenage Jan Dara his first lessons in the ways of love. Eventually, our abused hero is thrown out of his father's estate when Kaew frames him for raping her. Years pass and the formerly powerful Khun Luang, ravaged by age and disease, is a shell of the man he was before. Jan Dara is asked to return to his ancestral estate to marry Kaew, who is now pregnant, and only does so when he is promised the deed to the house. Once ensconced, Jan Dara begins taking the same libertine pleasures as his father, unwittingly becoming the very person he loathes. This film was an official selection for the 2001 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide