Streaming on Netflix from today is the Thai drama, Doi Boy. The movie – written and directed by Nontawat Numbenchapol – stars Awat Ratanapintha and Arak Amornsupasiri, and follows the story of a refugee sex worker living in Thailand.
In the movie, Sorn works with his friend Korn at an adult entertainment bar known as the Doi Boy, in the city of Chiang Mai. Sorn and Korn are refugees, who fled from their home country after they were recruited into the armed forces.
Until recently they have been making a living at the Doi Boy. But when the club is forced to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they find themselves out of work and out of money.
Taking on any manual labour job they can find, Sorn and Korn start working again, but soon cross paths with the authorities. Without any papers or a passport, they find themselves in trouble and in a dire situation.
However, Sorn is offered a way out of his predicament by an officer who is also one of his clients from the Doi Boy. He wants Sorn to take him to Thailand and act as a guide, as part of a special assignment.
Sorn is reluctant to return to the home he fled, but understands it may be his only option. With little choice, he accepts.
Doi Boy is an interesting if somewhat slow burning tale that will either grab you and command your attention, or will leave you largely sat on the sidelines. It’s tale of migration, hardship, and survival, and while at times it offers a strong story, and clearly a very personal narrative too, it doesn’t quite hook you in – or at the very least, it didn’t hook me in.
I can see what the movie is striving for, but I’m not quite sure it achieves all of its goals. That said, Doi Boy is beautifully shot, the cast are on fine form, and it tells a small-scale story about big problems in the world.
When it hits hard, it gets its key points across. It may not tick every box, but it certainly offers up some powerful moments.
When Doi Boy is at its best, it is during some of the more intimate scenes when Sorn is facing the harsh reality of his life. Actor Awat Ratanapintha offers a nuanced performance, painting a picture of a troubled individual who is trying to find peace in life.
Sorn’s journey is a difficult one, but Ratanapintha makes it as compelling as possible. He is the shining light in the film.
Doi Boy also benefits from some superb cinematography, which brings beauty to the screen, even during the darkness. The subject matter, which delves into human trafficking, backstreet passports, and sexually charged nightspots, could have been presented as grim and gritty, but there is a lighter touch in play here and it doesn’t go unnoticed.
Would I return to Doi Boy? No, and as noted above, it didn’t hit enough of the right notes for me to say I was ever fully invested. I imagine some audiences will connect with the material in a much firmer way than I did, but I do feel something is missing.
However, even if it’s not always captivating, Doi Boy has something to say. For those interested in giving it their time, it may prove appealing enough.
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Thank you for taking the time to read this review on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
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