''Sunset at Chaophraya'' ( th, คู่กรรม, ''Khu Kam'') is a 1995 romantic-

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

directed by

Euthana Mukdasanit Euthana Mukdasanit ( th, ยุทธนา มุกดาสนิท, born May 25, 1952) is a Thai film director screenwriter and National Artist of the Performing Arts (film director). As a contemporary director of Chatrichalerm Yukol, Euth ...

. Adapted from the novel ''

Khu Kam ''Koo Kam'' (Thai: คู่กรรม) is a Thai novel written by Thommayanti. It was adapted into a 1996 film, '' Sunset at Chaopraya'', and a 2013 remake that shared the same name. Plot summary Set in 1939, the early days of World War II ...

'' by

Thommayanti Thommayanti ( th, ทมยันตี) was the pen name of Thailand National Artist Khun Ying Wimon Chiamcharoen ( th, วิมล เจียมเจริญ; 10 July 1936 – 13 September 2021), née Wimon Siriphaibun ( th, วิมล ...

, the story is a love triangle, set in

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

-era

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...

, and depicts the star-crossed romance between an

Imperial Japanese Navy The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN; Kyūjitai: Shinjitai: ' 'Navy of the Greater Japanese Empire', or ''Nippon Kaigun'', 'Japanese Navy') was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945, when it was dissolved following Japan's surrend ...

officer and a Thai woman who is involved with the Free Thai resistance. Singer Thongchai "Bird" McIntyre stars as the Japanese officer Kobori, reprising his role from a popular, 26-episode television series in 1990 that was based on the book. Aside from the 1990 series, the story has been adapted numerous times, including a film in 1973, another film in the 1988 and a musical play in 2003 by Dreambox Theatre in Bangkok that was revived in 2007. One of top five box office hits in Thailand in 1995, this film was among the first Thai films to gain overseas distribution for home video, with an English-subtitled VHS release in 1998.

Plot

It is 1944, and the Japan's efforts to win the Pacific War are failing, and a Thai woman, Angsumalin, has just lost her husband, Kobori, an officer in the

. The scene then flashes back to 1939, the early days of World War II in Siam, to Angsumalin meeting one last time with her former lover, a young Thai man named Vanus. He is leaving for

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

for his studies and hopes that Angsumalin will wait for him and marry him when he returns. Shortly thereafter, Thailand is invaded by Japanese military forces. In

Thonburi __NOTOC__ Thonburi ( th, ธนบุรี) is an area of modern Bangkok. During the era of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, its location on the right (west) bank at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River had made it an important garrison town, which i ...

, opposite

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated populati ...

on the Chaophraya River, the Imperial Japanese Navy establishes itself at a base. The forces there are led by Kobori, an idealistic young captain. One day he sees Angsumalin swimming in the river and falls for her. She, being a proudly nationalistic Thai woman, despises him because he is a foreigner. Nonetheless, Kobori persists at seeing her and a courtship develops. Angsumalin sees a way to use Kobori to serve the underground

Free Thai Movement The Free Thai Movement ( th, เสรีไทย; ) was a Thai underground resistance movement against Imperial Japan during World War II. Seri Thai were an important source of military intelligence for the Allies in the region. Background I ...

while she waits for Vanus. Then, for political reasons, Angsumalin's father insists that she marry Kobori. Understanding that Angsumalin is not marrying him out of love, Kobori promises not to touch her, but he breaks that vow after the wedding. Despite this, Angsumalin develops tender feelings for Kobori, but is still torn by her feelings for her nation and Vanus, who returns to set in motion a conflict between the two men.

Cast (1995 Version)

* Bird McIntyre as Kobori * Apasiri Nitibhon as Angsumalin (in Japanese name

Hideko Hideko (written: , , or ) is a feminine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese writer *, Japanese table tennis player *, Japanese swimmer *, Japanese swimmer *, Japanese manga artist *, Japanese fencer *, Japanese ...

) *

Teerapat Sajakul Teerapat Sajakul ( th, ธีรภัทร์ สัจจกุล; RTGS: Thiraphat Satchakun), nickname Tui (), is a Thai actor and singer. He is also the chief executive for SEED 97.5 FM, one of the most popular radio stations run by MCOT. ...

as Vanus * Supakorn Srisawat as Pol *

Deux Doksadao Deux and D'eux means "of them" or "about them" while also being the number "two" in French. * 2 (number), the natural number following 1 and preceding 3 ** Two (disambiguation) * Folie à deux, a rare psychiatric syndrome Geography * Deux Monta ...

as Bua * Chitrakorn Sundarapakshin as Angsumalin's father

References

External links

* * * *
Sunset at Chaophraya
' at SiamZone {{DEFAULTSORT:Sunset At Chaophraya 1996 films 1996 romantic drama films Pacific War films Thai-language films 1990s Japanese-language films Thai romantic drama films Films based on Thai novels Films based on works by Thommayanti