Tears of the Black Tiger

2000 Action/Adventure

One of the most elaborate productions ever mounted in Thailand, Tears of the Black Tiger is a candy-colored Western made in the high-energy style that characterizes much contemporary Thai cinema. The plot is a traditional boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl, boy-gets-girl-again story that references both classic American Westerns and Thai folk tales. Poor boy Dum (Chartchai Ngamsan) and rich girl Rumpoey (Stella Malucchi) first lay eyes on each other as children when her family escapes Bangkok to his country hometown during World War II. When they meet again ten years later, they fall instantly in love and decide to marry. But the disapproval of her parents and a band of rampaging bandits led by the villainous Mahesuan (Supakorn Kitsuwon) combine to threaten their plans for future happiness.

Director: Wisit Sasanatieng

Starring: Chartchai Ngamsan, Suwinit Panjamawat, Stella Malucchi, Supakorn Kitsuwon, Arawat Ruangvuth

 30 Reviews  7 Awards

Reviews

  • A parody of and winking homage to the history of Thai melodrama, Wisit Sasanatieng's uproarious filmmaking debut exuberantly combines pop and kitsch with a wholesome belief in the thrills of bad art.

    Wesley Morris - The Boston Globe

    19 January 2013

  • What do you get when you mix a Douglas Sirk melodrama with a Sergio Leone Western? Tears of the Black Tiger, a high-camp Western from, of all places, Thailand.

    V.A. Musetto - New York Post

    19 January 2013

  • It is astonishing to realize that the highly confident Tears of the Black Tiger marks the directorial debut of Sasanatieng, after having written two movies hugely successful in Thailand, yet in truth he belongs to a long line of first-rate filmmakers who understand the wisdom of taking big chances the first time at bat.

    Kevin Thomas - Los Angeles Times

    19 January 2013

  • The result is something so old it's new, so corny it's funny. And while Tears of the Black Tiger is nothing more than entertaining, at least it's that.

    Michael Wilmington - The Chicago Tribune

    19 January 2013

  • A delirious fever dream of pulp-western conventions by way of 1950s Hollywood melodrama, Thai filmmaker Wisit Sasanatieng surreal oddity unfolds in heavily manipulated colors so rich they seem ready to leap off the screen, punctuated by spasms of over-ripe dialogue, floridly dramatic songs and maniacal villainous laughter.

    Maitland McDonagh - TV Guide

    19 January 2013

Awards

  • Wisit Sasanatieng

    Bratislava International Film Festival (2001)

     

  • Best Visual Design

    Chlotrudis Awards (2008)

     

  • Wisit Sasanatieng

    Ghent International Film Festival (2001)

     

  • Ek Iemchuen

    Gijón International Film Festival (2001)

  • Feature Film

    Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (2001)

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