Thai director Chira Wichaisuthikul's Lumpinee s not your typical pity party of a documentary. Following a group of young boxers training in a Muay Thai camp—run by a man devoted to the sport, Uncle Sak in Thailand's rural South—all gunning for a spot on Lumpini Stadium's fight card, the gritty documentary reveals the roots of the deadly ring sport.
Some kids training in Uncle Sak's camp were born with a passion for fighting, and some were pressured into a life of violence by their parents, insecurities, or for financial reasons; but, passion or not, Chira, makes known that these people believe that getting a fight at Lumpini is an answer to their impoverish prayers. It's all there: glory, riches, fame, the means to support their family and a ticket out of their small town.
The film direction was poignant and in control, which is seldom in a documentary when the narration is comprised solely of quotes from the fighters, trainers, and parents of the kids. The raw, unrefined cinematography style and uncommon, true-to-life shots best reflected the stouthearted spirits of his subjects, like Uncle Sak, the coach and mentor of the children he takes in, and Loma, the champion who lost himself in fame after getting to the point where he earned B100,000 per fight at Lumpini.
The fashion photographer-turned-documentarist gives an honest look into the lives of people that give life to Muay Thai. It doesn't demonize, nor argue if it's right or wrong for children to be fighting at a young age, it gives a simple mirror image of Thailand's Muay Thai culture. This is where it lacked.
Points and arguments seemed to repeat itself throughout the documentary because it's based solely on opinion of the people that have to live in the Muay Thai system that has been set up for them. There was nothing that came from Lumpini's fight organizers, or a bookie, or anyone else. It's not jam packed with hard numbers and facts, which may either be a pro or a con. That's up to you. It's according to your taste. It's more of an expose of this world. Though it may have made Chira's focus a little convoluted, it'd be nice to know more about the world surrounding these nakmuays. It may be better suited in a sequel.
But this doesn't change the fact that Lumpinee is a tough, entertaining example of great Thai film making. In small villages, where some families don't have enough money to send their children all the way through elementary school, Muay Thai camps and a Lumpini dream is a product of survival.
*Lumpinee is showing only once a day as part of the ongoing Indie Spirit 2011 (until Jul 31), at SF World Cinema (7/F CentralWorld, Ratchadamri Rd., 02-268-8888).