A new dawn for Thai cinema: Sivaroj Kongsakul’s ‘Regretfully at Dawn’
A decade in the making
Thai auteur Sivaroj Kongsakul, known for his feature directorial debut with Eternity, has returned to the cinematic landscape with his second feature, Regretfully at Dawn. This new film is set to premiere in the New Directors section at the San Sebastian festival, followed by an appearance at the Busan International Film Festival in October.
A departure from the past
Unlike Eternity and Kongsakul’s recent TV work, Regretfully at Dawn explores the intertwined fates of an old man, a little girl, and a young soldier. Set in a small province near Bangkok, the film delves into the life of Yong Junjam, portrayed by Surachai Juntimatorn, a veteran Thai rock musician. Yong, a former soldier, now dreams of building a treehouse while raising his intelligent and lively niece, abandoned by her parents. They live with Rambo, a black dog with peculiar eyes. As time seems to stop and the sun refuses to rise, Yong senses the approach of his death.
A collaborative effort
The film is produced by Pimpaka Towira (Thailand) and Weijie Lai (Singapore) from Extra Virgin and E&W Films, respectively. Diversion is handling world sales. The project was previously presented at various labs and co-production markets in Asia and Europe, including the Hubert Bals Fund for script development, the Cannes Fondation’s Residency program, La Fabrique Cinema, and the now-defunct SEAFIC. It received grant funding from the Singapore IMDA’s Southeast Asian Co-Production scheme.
A personal journey
Kongsakul reflects on the long journey he has taken with this film, contemplating the various dimensions of his own feelings. He reflects on his post-adolescence years, the time he can never return to, and his entrance into middle age, a period he now wishes to tackle with more seriousness. The reality of death, which he saw approaching everyone around him during the Covid-19 pandemic, also plays a significant role in his creative process. The three main characters of Regretfully at Dawn are vessels for his memory of the past, records of the present, and prophets of a future world in which he glimpses hopes and dreams.
A versatile director
Kongsakul was one of the directors who filmed the pan-Asian omnibus feature Distance in 2015. Much of his other work has been for the small screen, including the 2012 Korean remake series Autumn in My Heart, which aired on Thailand’s True; the 2015 series Devil Lover, which shot in Kitakyushu, Japan, and aired on Thailand’s GMM25; Thai series Nyctophobia and Two Pillows & a Lost Soul for GMM Studios International. Most recently, he directed the glossy Netflix Thailand series Master of the House.
Watch the trailer
For those eager to get a glimpse of Kongsakul’s latest work, you can watch the trailer for Regretfully at Dawn here.
Final thoughts
Kongsakul’s return to the big screen with Regretfully at Dawn marks a significant moment in Thai cinema. The film’s exploration of life, death, and the passage of time, combined with Kongsakul’s personal reflections, promises to offer a deeply moving and thought-provoking experience for audiences. As the film makes its way through the festival circuit, it will be interesting to see how it is received and what impact it will have on the future of Thai cinema.