Vichit Kounavudhi

Birth : 1922-01-23, Chachoengsao, Thailand

Death : 1997-01-01

History

Born in 1922 in Chachoengsao, Thailand, Vichet Kounavudhi graduated from Vajiravudh College in 1946 and started working as a journalist under the pen name Kounavudhi. He broke into film in 1950, when he was offered the villain's role in Fa Kamnod. From there, he worked as a screenwriter, writing the dialogue for an adaptation of Wannaboon Withayakom's Phrom Bandan. His first screenplay was Santi Weena. In 1978 he wrote and directed the drama, Mia Luang, or First Wife. Next he wrote and directed Khon Phukao, or Mountain People, a docu-drama about Thailand's hill tribes. It is one of his best regarded films. But his most well-known, critically acclaimed film is 1982's Look Isaan, or Son of the Northeast, which was shot in a similar documentary style, depicting hard-scrabble life in Thailand's rural northeast. In 1983, he became the first person in Thailand to be awarded an honorary doctorate in Communication Arts by Chulalongkorn University. In 1987, he was the first director to be honored by Thailand's National Culture Commission as the National Artist for Dramatic Arts (Motion Pictures). Vichit died in 1997 at the age of 75. In 2005, the Bangkok International Film Festival included four films by Vichit in a retrospective - First Wife, Mountain People, Son of the Northeast and his Vietnam War-era drama, Her Name is Boonrawd. The festival catalog noted that "Vichit Kounavudhi is regarded today as a master of the Thai motion picture industry - one of the greatest inspirations to later generations of filmmakers, praised as a genius of directing, screenwriting and editing. What makes his films special is not sophisticated technique, but an exceptional clarity and concision."

Movies

The Houseboat
Director
A remake of well known story… Three men and the woman who comes between them. The men, all struggling in early adulthood, share a floating bamboo hut on the river. The woman Penh is the daughter of the boys' landlord, and the likely fiancee of law student Jane. The brash, alpha-male Kaew is a Muay Thai fighter. And there's Rin a singer. All the guys have an eye on Penh, and Penh clearly adores the attentions of them all.
Boon Rawd
Editor
During the U.S. Vietnam War, Boon Rawd, a feisty young woman returns to her hometown to seek solace and work after she is violated by her employer. Back home, she realises many women have out of financial desperation become rent wives for the American soldiers at the military airbase near her village. She is determined not to go down the same route but faces harsh insults and misunderstandings from those around her when she develops a genuine bond with Robert Harry, the head mechanic of the airbase. The film is based on a popular novel, Phu Ying Khon Nan Chue Boonrod (1980), by the prominent Thai female author Supa Sirisingh (who went by the pseudonym Botan).
Boon Rawd
Screenplay
During the U.S. Vietnam War, Boon Rawd, a feisty young woman returns to her hometown to seek solace and work after she is violated by her employer. Back home, she realises many women have out of financial desperation become rent wives for the American soldiers at the military airbase near her village. She is determined not to go down the same route but faces harsh insults and misunderstandings from those around her when she develops a genuine bond with Robert Harry, the head mechanic of the airbase. The film is based on a popular novel, Phu Ying Khon Nan Chue Boonrod (1980), by the prominent Thai female author Supa Sirisingh (who went by the pseudonym Botan).
Boon Rawd
Director
During the U.S. Vietnam War, Boon Rawd, a feisty young woman returns to her hometown to seek solace and work after she is violated by her employer. Back home, she realises many women have out of financial desperation become rent wives for the American soldiers at the military airbase near her village. She is determined not to go down the same route but faces harsh insults and misunderstandings from those around her when she develops a genuine bond with Robert Harry, the head mechanic of the airbase. The film is based on a popular novel, Phu Ying Khon Nan Chue Boonrod (1980), by the prominent Thai female author Supa Sirisingh (who went by the pseudonym Botan).
A Son of the Northeast
Editor
A historical drama set in the 1930s Isan province Thailand, telling the travails of a small clan of subsistence farmers and their village as a particularly bad drought reduces them to bush living.
A Son of the Northeast
Screenplay
A historical drama set in the 1930s Isan province Thailand, telling the travails of a small clan of subsistence farmers and their village as a particularly bad drought reduces them to bush living.
A Son of the Northeast
Director
A historical drama set in the 1930s Isan province Thailand, telling the travails of a small clan of subsistence farmers and their village as a particularly bad drought reduces them to bush living.
Mountain People
Editor
Customs of the mountain people has always been strict and respectful to themselves. Doing something wrong will be considered as being disrespect to the spirits. Marrying someone from a different tribe is also wrong. Giving birth to twins, she and her husband together with the kids will have to leave the tribe.
Mountain People
Writer
Customs of the mountain people has always been strict and respectful to themselves. Doing something wrong will be considered as being disrespect to the spirits. Marrying someone from a different tribe is also wrong. Giving birth to twins, she and her husband together with the kids will have to leave the tribe.
Mountain People
Director
Customs of the mountain people has always been strict and respectful to themselves. Doing something wrong will be considered as being disrespect to the spirits. Marrying someone from a different tribe is also wrong. Giving birth to twins, she and her husband together with the kids will have to leave the tribe.
First Wife
Editor
Aniruth is married and has two children, but he is a womanizer. He is also romantically involved with a hot widow. One day his wife introduces him to her new assistant. Because of his habits, he starts flirting with her, which makes he and his wife divorced. But in the end, they both made it up to each other and back to be together.
First Wife
Writer
Aniruth is married and has two children, but he is a womanizer. He is also romantically involved with a hot widow. One day his wife introduces him to her new assistant. Because of his habits, he starts flirting with her, which makes he and his wife divorced. But in the end, they both made it up to each other and back to be together.
First Wife
Director
Aniruth is married and has two children, but he is a womanizer. He is also romantically involved with a hot widow. One day his wife introduces him to her new assistant. Because of his habits, he starts flirting with her, which makes he and his wife divorced. But in the end, they both made it up to each other and back to be together.
Charming Bangkok
Screenplay
Prae, a young man from Ban Sala Kwian, is fascinated by the prosperity of Bangkok. He escapes ordination, which devotes to his parents. And also avoids marrying Sabai, a rural girl chosen by her parents, to go to Bangkok. Bangkok causing Prae to be disappointed because he only met people with unkindness including a Bangkok girl that Prae love. Even faced with gangsters try to snatch the Buddha statue, which Prae brought with him, so he had to become a boxer.
Charming Bangkok
Director
Prae, a young man from Ban Sala Kwian, is fascinated by the prosperity of Bangkok. He escapes ordination, which devotes to his parents. And also avoids marrying Sabai, a rural girl chosen by her parents, to go to Bangkok. Bangkok causing Prae to be disappointed because he only met people with unkindness including a Bangkok girl that Prae love. Even faced with gangsters try to snatch the Buddha statue, which Prae brought with him, so he had to become a boxer.
Miss Poradok
Director
A young girl was born into a noble family and lived a rich life. After her father passed away, Pin, her mother remarries to Mr. Athon Hengkul, a young businessman with stepdaughter. He always loves and cares for her. One day, her new father died. Abchit, Mr. Athon's sister do not agree with the treasure that she and her mother receive. Out of jealousy, she conspires with Athon's second son hoping to make her a wife. Meanwhile, she goes to stay with her friend Sai Samorn. Here, she meets and falls in love with Sol Thongprai, a handsome lawyer farmer.