“Not Friends” is the directorial debut of Atta Hemwadee. This coming-of-age comedy-drama was released in Thailand at the end of 2023, and was chosen as Thailand's submission for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards, although it did not receive a nomination.
Not Friends is screening at International Film Festival Rotterdam
The story, written by the director himself, centres around Pae (Anthony Buisseret), a teenage student who was recently transferred to a new school during his sixth semester. There, he meets Joe (Pisitpol Ekaphongpisit), a popular and sociable student, who wants to befriend the main protagonist. After Joe tragically dies in a car accident, Pae decides to exploit the situation by making a short film that would help him get into a university, as he would rather not work at the family business. However, one girl at the school who knew Joe quite well, Bokeh (Thitiya Jirapornsilp), sees through his self-serving motives in exploiting the tragedy.
The film is very lively and action-packed. It's not only an energetic high school comedy, but also an uplifting and engaging drama exploring the essence of friendship, growing up, and searching for an identity. Regardless of the light-hearted setting and persistent humour throughout the whole picture, the narrative tackles serious issues as well, such as ethics regarding the double standards for oneself and others, which the teenage protagonists must face.
The 129 minutes of the movie are filled to the brim with events, characters, plot twists, a great sense of humour, and references to other works of world cinema. For most of the screening, the story feels well-planned and consistent, but at times the viewers might feel like they are watching two films in one, as the director decided to mix comedy and drama elements. The narrative definitely works better in those lighter and humour-filled moments, as the serious and contemplative scenes may seem a bit out of place.
There are numerous characters in the movie, but each one of them is presented in a charming and relatively nuanced manner. The acting in the film is solid, as all actors deliver a genuine portrayal of their characters and effectively convey the dilemmas faced by their respective roles. Especially deserving of recognition are not only the main characters, Anthony Buisseret and Thitiya Jirapornsilp, but also Ingkarat Damrongsakkul, who plays Ohm, a seriously ill friend of Joe.
The cinematography by Pasit Tandaechanurat is vibrant and creative, capturing the essence of each scene with a bold approach. This visual brilliance is further enhanced by the dynamic editing by Chonlasit Upanigkit, who brings an engaging rhythm to the storytelling. This type of filming definitely resonates with the craziness of teenage years and the unpredictability associated with growing up.
At the end of the movie, someone comments Pae's project, with a question: “Did you just throw this together?”. This question accurately sums up “Not Friends” as during the screening the audience can experience a mixture of many different things. The film has its flaws, but it indisputably shows the creators' immense love for cinema, providing really enjoyable entertainment.
