Directed and written by Visra Vichit-Vadakan for Hidden Rooster Films, Karaoke Girl narrates the real life of Sa Sittijun, an upcountry girl from Nong Khai who moved to Bangkok to work as an escort in a karaoke bar. It has received positive feedback and awards internationally, in part for its clever blend of documentary and fictional styles, which creates a gripping portrayal of women working in Bangkok’s bars.

The documentary part portrays the life of Sa Sittijun, who was born to farming parents in Nong Khai and moved to Bangkok to seek a better living. It includes interviews with Sa and follows her on a visit she pays to her family in Nong Khai during Songkran before cutting back to Bangkok. Alternating with the documentary, is a fictional story line that sees Sa develop a relationship with a regular customer, Ton (Supavich Mepremwattana), which serves to show the contrast between city and country folk.

Director Visra does a great job of blending the two elements, documentary and fiction, making both parts more powerful and emotional through their superimposition. The interplay between the two parts does not interrupt the story or the emotions they generate at all, in fact it enhances them. The character of Sa in the fictional part gains depth from Sa in the documentary, and her slightly amateurish acting in turn enhances the realism of the documentary.

The highlight of this clever effort comes near end of the film, a behind-the-scenes shot of Sa preparing to perform a scene in the fictional part of the movie. The audience is suddenly pulled out of the two layers and faced with the reality of Sa’s condition, with a kind of intense brutality. We’re glad Karaoke Girl was noticed abroad, but it’s an absolute must-see for Thais, who we feel will have an even better grasp on all the complex layers and subtleties at play in this gripping story.