Muaythai is, in fact, like a two-sided coin—it portrays both the violence of battle and the beauty of a martial art. In this story, a group of boys embraced Muaythai with passion. They were ambitious and imaginative under in their own modest ways.
The story of Muaythai has begun. It was at Yan Ta Kao district, Trang province, the homeland of Muaythai legend Puth Lhorlek. After having failed with a professional Muaythai career, Susak, a former Muaythai boxer who was friends with Puth, found an alternative by setting up a Muaythai camp called “Sakniranrat” or also known as “Chor Na Pattalung” after his wife’s last name.
The small Muaythai camp was surrounded by a rubber farm, the homeland of Susak who hoped to create professional Muaythai out of this countryside so that one day, his boxers would have a chance to fight against boxers from big camps in Bangkok. But the biggest dream of all was winning a champion’s title at Lumphini Stadium. How many country boys will reach that spot?
Susak had to handle all the hardships of taking care of the young boxers who joined the Sakniranrat Camp. Some boys were sent to this camp because their parents could not handle their behavior and their disobedience. Some joined the camp because of personal liking. Some young boys were poor, homeless or even drug-addicted and thieves with no goal in life. They came to the camp to find shelter and viewed Muaythai as their last option.
Those young boys were destined to live together in this small community where friendship and conflict meet with Susak as their shelter. This camp is no different from reformatory school or an emotional treatment center. Susak was like their adoptive father whose strict guidelines and sincerity were given equally to every boy.
Their first chapter of becoming boxers was not only the start of a new life but the boys also saw hope and dreams in Muaythai. Even though some of their dreams were small and innocent in some people’s eyes, but to them, the dreams were always big—dreams that were created in the minds of those young boys who started with nothing.
Director’s Statement
Muaythai is not only the nation’s sport but actually a way of life of to Thai people. Even though we are stepping forward to the developed world, Muaythai is still presented in the form of a concept performed in the original Thai style and, most importantly, it reflects the Thai culture which is considered to be the root ideology and knowledge of Thailand.
Along the path to becoming professional boxers, right up until the ending, we accompanied these young boxers, both in success and in failure. Their stories mirrored conflicts in society and will also expand the definition of “the best Muaythai” that has been abandoned by Thai people. The stories will somehow ask questions of the readers, even people who have nothing to do with Muaythai.
This documentary is created for every Thai person and intends to propose the message especially to Thai youth to acknowledge the importance of Muaythai. It is for them to feel proud that this “gift” is for every single one of them.
Violence, passion, spirit