Netflix recently released the official trailer for “Once Upon a Star,” a film that pays homage to Thai cinema in the 1960s.
“In 1970, a cinema projection troupe faces roadblocks as they journey across Thailand to entertain eager audiences by live-dubbing beloved films,” the trailer’s description states.
“This unique style of entertainment, which was long forgotten, is revived in all its glory on Netflix,” the streaming giant wrote in a press release.
“This movie is inspired by interviews with dubbers who worked during that era. The more I heard about their joyful and memorable experiences, the more I wanted to portray these stories in a film as a tribute to the Thai film industry,” Nimibutr told Netflix.
Honoring a star: “Once Upon a Star” notably pays tribute to legendary Thai actor Mitr Chaibancha, who starred in popular films such as “Money Money Money” (1965), “Golden Eagle” (1970) and “The Tiger and the Dragon” (1971).
“Even though I wasn’t around during his era, I have always heard people talk about him since I started working in the film industry,” Sukollawat Kanaros, who plays the character Manit in “Once Upon a Star,” told Netflix. “I am impressed by his life’s work and on-screen performances. While filming the movie, it felt like I was meeting him every day as I had to dub his voice. I felt a genuine connection to him through my character. There was one scene where I met him face to face. That was the proudest moment of this character.”
Key people: In addition to Kanaros, the film’s cast includes Noona Nuengthida as Ruangkhae, Kao Jirayu as Kao and Samart Payakaroon as Uncle Man.
Release date: “Once Upon a Star” will be available to stream on Netflix starting on Oct. 11.
