The Overture (2004)

In the heart of Thailand's gilded age, under the reigns of Kings Rama V to VIII, unfolds the captivating story of The Overture. It charts the journey of Luang Pradit Pairoh, known as Sorn Silapabanleng, a child prodigy who became the most esteemed traditional Thai music master of his era. Sorn's life is inseparable from his music, his chosen instrument, the ra-nad ek (Thai xylophone), becoming an extension of his very soul. The film paints a vivid picture of Thailand's rich musical heritage, tracing its golden age to its near extinction in the 1930s, a pivotal period when the government, under the rule of Field Marshall Plaek Pibulsongkram, deemed it uncivilised while striving to thrust the nation into modernity. The narrative oscillates between two significant epochs in Sorn's life. We see him as a fiery young man, engaged in a riveting xylophone duel with the formidable Kun In, and later amid the 1940s, a turbulent era when Thailand was under the oppressive Japanese occupation. In these dark times, Sorn's music emerges as a beacon of hope, inspiring the downtrodden citizens and igniting a flame of resilience. The Overture is a stirring exploration of a man's life interwoven with the rise and fall of a nation's cultural identity, a heartfelt ode to the enduring power of music to reflect, inspire, and transform.

The Overture is a drama movie featuring Anuchit Sapanpong and directed by Ittisoontorn Vichailak.

The Overture is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy.

It is also possible to buy The Overture on Amazon Video and Vudu.