Rad Thal

CHATRI CHALERM YUKOL'S SOUTH ASIAN EPIC

The Legend of Suriyothai is a historical epic from Thailand, and you know what those are like.

You don't? Start by imagining I, Claudius fleshed out with clanging, cast-of-thousands battle scenes, the sort that Hollywood now shortcuts with digital effects but that were here produced the oldfashioned way, with extras dragooned from the Thai Army. The action takes place in the 16th century, a particularly dark period in Thai history, or so we learn, what with the monarchy's being destabilized by foreign invasions, shifting internal alliances, and poison. Rising to the patriotic challenge is the title character, a princess who for centuries since has inspired her nation with her uncomplaining, Mrs. Miniver-like devotion to duty. For Thais, this may all be very rousing, and the picture boasts further patriotic pedigree in having been written and directed by Chatri Chalerm Yukol, an actual Thai prince who studied at U.C.L.A. Unfortunately, while Western audiences may enjoy the rare chance to hiss the King of Burma, they may also find the royal intrigue nearly as dumbfounding as the galactic politics in the Star Wars prequels. (A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, George Lucas at least knew how to tell a story.) The real reason to see The Legend of Suriyothai is the battle scenes, the best of which feature elephants lumbering into combat ridden by cavalrymen equipped with what look to be 10-yard lances. The result is a kind of slow-motion, herky-jerky joust that has to be seen to be believed. (The film's publicity material also promised bare-breasted Amazon warriors, but I must have missed them amid all the tumult.) (Rating: ★★★)

B.H.