TL;DR –  A difficult but also fascinating look at the pressures of Thai life through those who sit at the bottom of the hierarchy.

Doi Boy Review –

One of my goals this year was to hit one hundred films reviewed and expand the cinematic landscape I have explored. Well, we ticked off the one hundred films goal earlier this week, but the goal of increasing my cinema still marches on. Today, we look at our first film from Thailand that drops us into a world on the cusp of rapid change.

So to set the scene, Sorn (Awat Ratanapintha) is an ethnic Shan man who was a former Monk who was pressganged into the military. They had to escape from Myanmar because of the violence. In Thailand, all he wants is the best for himself and his girlfriend Bee (Panisara Rikulsurakan), but there are few opportunities for someone without the right documentation. One industry that did pay well was adult entertainment; that is how he and Korn (Noomsang) ended up working for Madame M (Teerawat Mulvilai) in Chiang Mai. A world of money but also a world of danger.

One of the things that Doi Boy explores quite well is the layers of exploitation that many immigrants face, especially those without documentation. It puts people who are just trying to survive into dangerous positions, which only escalated when COVID shut down much of the entertainment industry. Bribes and money are gone in an instant because you can’t call the police. Indeed, they are usually the ones pocketing the bribes. It creates a firestorm that Sorn finds himself in, one where there are no good choices.

As this film explores the world of exploitation, it becomes hard to watch at times, especially when Sorn is forced into being an accessory to Ji’s (Arak Amornsupasiri) disappearance of Wuth (Aelm Thavornsiri). It also explores the heart of some of Thailand’s recent political issues. I am not an expert enough on Thai politics to tell you if it is an authentic representation of what things are like on the ground, but it feels like it is hitting close to the mark. It is also interesting how much has changed in Myanmar since this film was made till today.

From a production perspective, I liked how lived in parts of this world was. You felt it was a room that had been lived in, a place where you keep all your life in. It also helps that they filmed it in some stunning forest locations to offset some of the more sombre parts of the film. Though that does mean we get some moments where the fire is very clearly red lights and smoke machines, that does not take away from the moment. For a film partly based in the world of adult entertainment, it was more tactful with the use of nudity than I was expecting.

What I found interesting was how the narrative progressed throughout the film. To begin with, the movie presents itself heading in one direction before having a post-COVID pivot that I was not expecting. The title is just where the story starts and not where it is going to stay. We then began an almost meandering around the place that could have felt disjoined but was more meditative. Some moments feel direr, and those that still have a hint of optimism, and I think the cast helped make that distinction work. I’d be interested to see how people find the ending because it doesn’t fall into any neat categories I am used to.  

In the end, do we recommend Doi Boy? I am not quite sure. This was a film that I was fascinated with, but it is also not going to be a film for everyone. It is sometimes not easy to watch, and the ending might be difficult to work through. If you liked Doi Boy, we would recommend to you Pain and Glory.

By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Twitter Here, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

Have you watched Doi Boy?, let us know what you thought in the comments below, feel free to share this review on any of the social medias and you can follow us Here. Check out all our past reviews and articles Here, and have a happy day. 


Credits – All images were created by the cast, crew, and production companies of Doi Boy
Directed by – Nontawat Numbenchapol
Other Writing by – Homsap Chanchana, Prasongsom Koonsombat, Prakit Laemluang & Nakorn Phopairoj
Written by – Nontawat Numbenchapol
Music by – Kateana Juntimathorn & Nannue Tipitier
Cinematography by – Rimvydas Leipus
Edited by – Harin Paesongthai
Production/Distribution Companies – Neramitnung Film co., Mobile Lab, Anti-Archive & Netflix
Starring – Awat Ratanapintha, Arak Amornsupasiri, Aelm Thavornsiri, Panisara Rikulsurakan & Ornjira Lamwilai with Nattapong ‘Mooring’ Phamon, Noomsang, Atthanee Tokeree, Bundit Thianrat, Teerawat Mulvilai, Jarunun Phantachat, Pree Asvaraksha, Pree Nokham & Thaworn Santhong  
Rating – Australia: M;