BK: How did you learn to cook?
I read a lot of cookbooks and I used to be a waiter in a big restaurant where I learned bits and pieces from the chef. Back then I had to eat out a lot, so I had the chance to try many variations of the same dishes which helped me when I became a cook.

BK: What is the hardest food for you to cook?
That would be kanom jeen nam prik (rice vermicelli served with curry) because of its complicated flavor, which is sweet, sour and salty at the same time. Each person has a different perception of the dish, too: some prefer it sweet and others like it really sour.

BK: How are the high food prices affecting your business?
They are having a large impact on all small street vendors. And I can’t raise my prices because people will complain and I’d lose customers. I voted for this government in the hope that this sort of situation could be averted, but obviously it hasn’t. So that’s it for me, I’m kind of through with Thai politics. Now all I can do is prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

BK: How good is your khao gaeng?
Well, you’ll have to ask my customers, but I think it’s pretty good seeing as I have a number of regular customers and most of it sells out at the end of each day.

BK: What are the best and the worst things about your job?
The best is knowing that khao gaeng will never go out of style as it is so entwined with the Thai way of life—it’s fast, cheap and easy to share. I also enjoy that my job keeps me in the loop because people love to gossip when they eat in a group! The worst thing is that my income is so uncertain due to the fluctuating food and gas prices, and taxes.

BK: If you could compare your job to a dish, what would it be?
I’d say a challenging dish like kaeng som (sour curry) because it’s all about finding a balance between flavors. Life is also about balancing career, family, friends and more—and it’s not easy.

BK: What’s your family situation?
It’s about as good and humble as it could be under the circumstances. My husband and I have a loving relationship so I consider myself lucky.

BK: What are your hopes for the future? Any advice for other khao gaeng vendors?
It would be bliss if I could have my own small restaurant. As for my fellow vendors, I would say don’t spend too much money on the underground lottery! Interview by Proudpisut Sang-ou-thai

How is Antapal different from a film like 2499?
2499 was a gritty “rock n’ roll” depiction of late-1950s gangster life, but Antapal looks more at the changing face of gangster culture as it tried to adapt to a rapidly changing society around the same time.

Why did you focus on this particular period in the movie?
That period was remarkable for everything: fashion, ideas, politics. It was a time of great change and energy, not just in Thailand, but all over the world. Elvis and rock n’ roll are universal.

How did you come to cast Noi (Krisada Sukosol) as a gangster?
I really wanted to strip away the classic image of the gangster, and Noi seemed made for the part. I wanted to show that gangsters don’t always have to act aggressively, but can be calm and collected before catching you off-guard. A polite gangster is one you can’t mess with because he is a ticking bomb—the next thing you know you’re at the hospital!

What was the hardest part of directing this movie?
Striking a balance between truth and fiction. In terms of production this meant ensuring a consistency of settings and props as we were shooting a period movie in a vastly different world. It was quite tough but also a great challenge to find the right places to shoot and we had to get pretty innovative at times.

What impact has winning the Best Director gong at the Suphanahong Awards 2010 had on your career?
I’m not one to let any recognition be a burden on my work. I won’t let anything take the fun out of directing a movie. Still, winning awards is a huge boost, even if it’s not my real aim. I just want to do my best as a story teller, so that audiences get the chance to watch a great movie.

What do think of the local film industry?
Making movies is certainly easier today because of advances in technology, so we have more up-and-coming filmmakers—but quantity is not the same as quality. So many movies rely on special effects but lack real substance. I daresay there are only really two styles that young Thai filmmakers try to emulate: Quentin [Tarantino] and Joey [Apichatpong Weerasethakul]. Both are stylistically impressive if you have a good theme, but we should be looking to forge our own identities.

What’s planned for your next film?
I want to do something about faith. I think nowadays people lack faith in themselves, their spirituality and their country. I want to produce a movie that has the power to nourish people’s spirits and ignite them to do something worthwhile. Proudpisut Sang-ou-thai