Tri-lingual tryst ‘Patong Girl’ premiers this month

PHUKET: A young German lad falls in love with the mysterious, native beauty Fai while on holiday in Thailand with his family. He follows his heart, but things get complicated… That’s the synopsis of Patong Girl, the latest tri-lingual movie co-produced by Thailand-based moviemaker Tom Waller.

Set for release in Phuket on April 18 at SF Cinema at Jungceylon, Patong Girl is a modern-day romance set in Phuket, with a German and Thai cast.

Mr Waller has produced or co-produced about 14 films in Thailand. All were partially or mainly set in the Kingdom, including the hit romantic drama Butterfly Man, which received rave reviews after its release in 2002, enthralling audiences until the very end.

He has also recently worked on the Hollywood movie Mechanic Resurrection, starring Jason Statham, Jessica Alba and Tommy Lee Jones, which was filmed partially in and around Phuket and is set for release in August.

In an exclusive interview with the Phuket Gazette, Mr Waller said Patong Girl is another romance set in an exotic location, but the similarities with Butterfly Man end there.

“Fai doesn’t betray the protagonist. Things get more ‘complicated’ for this couple as the truth is unraveled,” he said.

“Patong Girl was financed mainly by ZDF television and a number of German regional funds, so the budget was not huge, and the production team was quite small,” said Mr Waller, who worked with German producers Andrea Ufer and Gunter Hanfgarn.

“The film is primarily in German and English, with some Thai, of course, when the locals speak among themselves. We are showing it in cinemas with both English and Thai subtitles,” said Mr Waller.

Phuketians who are familiar with Patong may wonder where some of the scenes were filmed. Many of them were actually shot in Pattaya due to budget restraints, admitted Mr Waller. However, the talented international cast give a very intense and realistic performance, he said.

“Aisawanya Areyawattana (Amp), the Thai actress who plays Fai in Patong Girl, gives a very credible performance, and all the German cast are extremely convincing as a German family on holiday for the first time in Thailand,” said Mr Waller.

— Nick Davies