After proving her undoubted acting talents over the past decade in films like Bang Rajan and Ai-Fak, Bongkot “Tak” Kongmalai takes a step forward with her directorial debut in Nang Fah, which explores the lives behind the curtain of three showgirls in Pattaya.

The story is told from the perspective of Mint (Julalak “Om-Yim” Julanon) after she has quit her job as a showgirl at The Angels bar in Pattaya. Her fellow Angels are Roong (Ratha “Yaya Ying” Pho-ngam) a talented dancer and choreographer who wants more from life, even if that means she ends up making some poor choices later in the film. Then there’s the beautiful and sincere Fern (Tak), who is popular with clients despite being deaf. But the film’s main focus is Mint’s 15-year old son Kao and his wish to discover who his father really is.

Let’s start with the good things about the film. Perhaps the biggest award should go to the people who compiled the trailer, who once again demonstrate that Thai editors have a real knack for making a bad film look much better than it really is. We should also give a shout out to the choreography and music, which is OK, even if it makes what’s meant to be a seedy bar in Pattaya look all too glamorous.

Apart from that, it’s all a bit of a mess. Sure, sex plays a huge part in the girls’ reality but the naked scenes are just gratuitous and add little value. Sensitive issues in the film like homosexuality are handled clumsily and the whole story line is poorly edited and features an unlikely and unbelievable twist. But, aside from all that, we should make special dishonorable  mention of the acting, and especially that of the numerous child actors. Kao is one of the main leads but ends up giving a stellar turn as someone reading the script off a bit of paper.

While the film could have been as intriguing as the trailer, the sad fact is that it just turns out a little depressing and unwittingly gross. Tak might turn in a half-decent performance as the deaf Fern but she really should have spent more time worrying about the directing part of her job. She just can’t seem to decide whether she wants to make a warts-and-all portrayal of the life of a bar girl or a Thai version of Chicago. In the end, she manages to do neither and that really brings the curtain down on this whole sorry show.