Nang Nak

Plot synopsis:
In a rural village west of Bangkok, Mek (Winai Kraibutr) is conscripted and sent to fight in the Siamese-Vietnamese War (1831–1834). He has to leave behind his pregnant teenage wife, Nak (Intira Jaroenpura). Mek is wounded and barely survives. He eventually returns home to his beloved wife and their child.
A friend visits and sees Mek living with Nak. The villagers, knowing she had died months earlier, realize Mek is spellbound by her ghost. But those who attempt to tell him are killed in the night by Nak's ghost, desperate to stay with her husband. When Mek confronts Nak about the rumors, she lies and says the villagers disliked her after he left for the war. She claims they are also telling lies about their son not being Mek's. Mek believes her and lashes out at anyone who tell him she is dead.
Mek eventually discovers the truth. Crawling under their house, one night to retrieve an item, he trips ons something sticking up from the dirt. Curious, he digs it up and finds a corpse making him wonder why Nak would always prevent him from going down there. Looking up through the creaks of the wood floor, he sees Nak sitting and brushing her hair. Dropping the comb through a creak, her arm eerily extends all the way to the floor to retrieve it. Mek covers his mouth, so she wouldn't hear him scream and continues observing Nak. Nak picks up her crying baby wherein Mek sees that their son is a corpse as well. A series of flashbacks reveal that Nak had a difficult childbirth and both mother and child died from complications. Mek flees in terror to the local temple to hide. Nak follows him and attempts to win him back, but he is too frightened of her. The villagers attempt to drive out Nak, burning down her house and at last summoning an exorcist. Nak refuses to leave unless Mek returns to her. Mek pleads with her to leave to the netherworld. He loves her, but they can't be together since she is dead. He tells her that he is going to cut his hair and become a monk in order to pray for her sins and allow her spirit to find peace. She still refuses.
The kingdom's most respected Buddhist monk (Somdej Toh) arrives and in a tearful farewell Nak repents, leaving her husband for this life. Somdej Toh has the centre of her forehead cut out, thus releasing her spirit, and makes a girdle brooch of it. The epilogue states it later came into the possession of His Royal Highness Prince Chumbhorn Ketudomsak. It was thereafter handed down for generations and its current owner unknown.

Tags: revenge

Review:
I had never heard the story of Nang Nak before, and up to that point, everything I knew about Thailand, I learned from the movie 'Ong Bak' (no offence to any Thai readers).'Nang Nak' turned out to be much better than I had anticipated.
The story of Nak, a pregnant woman whose husband Mak has been sent to war, wounded and is resting in Bangkok.
She can't stay in this world, but she loves Mak too much to leave.A touching story, 'Nang Nak' is beautifully shot and the performances powerful.
Some terrifying scenes accompany a tragic tale of love being eternal, even in death.
The movie makes you empathize with Nak, even though what she does is wrong, she is justified in her actions.'Nang Nak' is a great movie, and a moving story.
I intend to read the story sometime, and I urge anyone who likes the movie to do the same if they haven't - 9/10, I would encourage anyone to see it..
"Nang Nak" is set in the late 1860s and is based on a Thai legend of the supernatural.
When war comes to Thailand, a young husband, Mak, leaves his newly pregnant wife and goes off to fulfill his duty as a soldier.
The other villagers have come to fear Nak--and for good reason."Nang Nak" set box office records in Thailand when it was released in 1999.
Filmed among menacing rivers and lush jungles, "Nang Nak" is a visually stunning film grounded in a solid story line.
From the beautiful shots of Thailand's flora and fauna to the chilling supernatural scenes (which occasionally have the slightest--and rather surprising--hint of Sam Raimi's distinctive cinematic style), director Nonzee Nimibutr immerses his audience in an enchanted world.
Even so, "Nang Nak" has plenty of power and poetry to spare.(A cultural/historical note: The unusual and rather startling blackened teeth of the villagers in the film are due to the practice of chewing beechnuts.
Most Thai historicals or ghost stories are loaded with anachronistic pop culture cliches.
The point is that this film is a serious attempt to do justice to both the original tale and the time period it is set in.
What stood out for me is that Nak's justification for her actions seemed quite defensible, adding to the anguished poignancy of the situation.Asian ghost stories, when done well, have a strongly moral character.
This is a beautiful movie about the undying love between a young man conscripted into the army, and the devoted and pregnant wife he leaves behind.
The photography alone, under Nattawut Kittikhun, is so delicately executed that you would think the film must be printed on rice paper.Though not essential to enjoyment of the movie, it helps to understand that its basis is the Buddhist concept of "Hungry Ghosts," souls that have become so attached to this world that they cannot make the transition to their next incarnation.
If "Nang Nak" is indicative of Thai cinema's potential, then I hope we see a lot more of it..
Here we have something totally unique: an Asian ghost story!
Well, it is if you bear in mind that "Nang Nak" comes from Thailand and hasn't got anything to do with the overrated and rather weak stream of Japanese horror movies, such as "Ringu", "Ju-On The Grudge" and "The Eye".
The film is based on a perennial Thai legend that apparently everybody knows over there and finally received a reasonably well-budgeted and international-orientated film version now!
The legend revolves on the happily married couple Mak (the man) and Nak (the wife) and is set in the second half of the 19th century.
Mak is very reluctant to leave his pregnant wife to go and fight in the war, more particularly because she's expecting their first child.
When he returns home, still recovering from the loss of his best friend in battle as well as a near-fatal chest wound, Mak finally hopes to find peace and quiet with his beloved family.
But something changed here, too Friends and neighbors keep telling that Nak died whilst giving birth and that Mak only lives together with the spirits of his wife and child.
"Nang Nak" is one of those extremely rare films that successfully blend romance and genuine drama with horror!
The story is pretty intense and heartbreaking, mostly thanks to powerful performances, yet the horror elements are definitely not ignored and multiple images are almost too grisly to process.
"Nang Nak" might easily be the most stylish and beautifully photographed Asian film ever made!
It's almost like watching an educational National Geographic documentary AND a great movie at the same time!
Eternal Love in a Touching Ghost Story.
In 1868, Mak (Winai Kraibutr) is summoned to the war and leaves his beloved wife Nang Nak (Intira Jaroenpura), who is pregnant, alone in their isolate house in Prakanong.
He miraculously survives and after a long time, he returns to Prakanong.He meets Nak and their son and they live happily together until the day that a friend of Mak visits him and tells that Nak had died in the delivery and he is living with the ghost of his wife and his stillborn son.
"Nang Nak" is a movie about a Thai legend of a faithful wife that dies but does not live the world of the living waiting for her beloved husband that is missing in action in the war.
The story of eternal love is a touching ghost story with a melodramatic farewell in the end.
It becomes an important keyword from this movie, and it becomes the problem solver for the conflict.Nang Nak tells us about a folk legend in Thailand around 19th century.
It is a beautiful horror story about a man named Mak, whom his wife (Nak) is dead with her baby when she gives birth.
Mak don't know about it, because he was in war when his wife dead.
When Mak return to his home, he is life happily with his wife and their baby.
After that, Mak's friend is suddenly dead.You can guess what happened next, it's not so complicated nor so unusual, but how Nonzee Nimibutr use the plot is so interesting.
This movie is not only a high quality horror.
Who knew Thailand produced such great movies!.
When I saw that Fant-Asia was screening the first Thai film in the history of the festival, I was really keen to see what kinds of movies are being produced there.It turned out that this romantic/ horror film was one of my favorite of the whole festival.
However, they manage to convey both the sweetness and the horror of the tale without compromising either.If you get the chance, I highly recommend this film..
I thought that all such romantic horror films should take on similar cinematography to make the film beautiful.However, when I watched Nang Nak after graduation, I really salute to the director for making such a beautiful story.
The story behind the legend was true, and it was the perfect choice of the director to choose the production of this film as a love-story instead of a horror movie.Basically it all started out of love, the love of a woman to her man, bearing his child and yet, before they could get together again as a family, they had to be separated by heaven and earth as she dies during child birth.
The female lead did a wonderful job to be so constrained, so soft and almost to the point of pitiful loving which makes it truly understandable why she could not leave her husband despite her death.To intensify her longing to be with her husband, we saw how she was robbed off her belongings at the point of her death while she was giving birth, a young woman who had to bear the pain of childbirth without the support of her husband by her side.
During that time, there were no modern hospital facilities and giving birth in itself is a dangerous labor of love.
Her courage beaten, her life taken, and yet she had not been able to see her husband for the last time.It is no wonder that such a loving woman would bring her child along with her to meet with her husband once more, just so that they can live together again as a happy family.
Despite her coming back to haunt the village, as a viewer I can only pity her for her everlasting love for her husband and her strong will to keep herself within this realm of existence just to be with him, defying all laws of nature..
A Real Hit. Nang Nak is the first Thai film that has got Thai people back watching Thai films.
It is a true story and the legend is very much alive in every Thai person's mind.
The Temple (Wat MahaWoot) is still an active temple and even today people flock to the temple to get good luck (lucky numbers) for their lottery tickets.The story has been told many times in film and also for television - but it still has a great impact on the Thai.The film is well worth watching.
Great place to start if new to Thai ghost stories!.
An awesome introduction to the world of Thai ghost stories, much more so than Bangkok Haunted or Lhorn which are both mildly entertaining but nearly devoid of any true cultural significance (save Lhorn's tale of the 'paup') - not to mention their shared lack of scares."Nang Nak" or Miss Nak translated to English, is a brilliantly filmed atmospheric tale of love that goes well beyond this mortal world.
I personally was entranced by the film, and even though it's not terrifying, there are enough chills to be had if one gives themselves over to the story.
Filmed many times before, but never with the grace and power brought by director Nonzee Nimbutr, Nang Nak tells a famous Thai cautionary tale set in the 1860's of young husband Mak who is called away to war leaving newly pregnant wife Nak alone in their remote river bank village.While fighting Mak is seriously wounded and suffers a menacing recovery lasting many months as Monks in Bangkok nurse him back to health.
Returning home he joyously reunites with devoted wife Nak and their newborn son, beginning life anew as a father.
The mystery takes a dark turn as husband Mak begins to hear very disturbing things from close friends regarding his bride, who has become shunned and hated since Mak left to fight in the war.
Ever the model husband, Mak refuses to believe or even discuss the possibility Nak is to blame for the fear holding an entire village in its grip.
Is it possible even the village elders have succumbed to mass hysteria...or is there a very real reason everyone is terrified of the beautiful Miss Nak?
In my opinion Nang Nak scores very high marks across the board for Cinematography, Story, Cast and even in the Chills department.
Very powerful, heartrending movie..Eternal love...
this film covers all those bases and more.Have you ever been in love?
The best Nang Nak Version, I've every seen..
Nang nak had been made for many times in Thailand both for TV series and films.
Therefore, most of them express the scary part of Nak but they don't mention anything about her deep true love to Mak. So I think this version is very touching and great.
Nang Nak was introduced to me by my wife...
It is because the publicity in the newspaper telling about how this movie has made an impact at one of the European countries movie awards - it's a horror movie but with strong love story message.
I was still doing my work while my wife kept on yelling at me every five minutes to join her...So, I was kind of surprised how good the movie was.
Especially the scene when Mak took a refuge in the monastery and Nak followed him there.
The most scary part is when she hung on the ceiling....Me and my wife had a trouble for a moment to even try to glance at our own house ceiling!Nang nak....
Really interesting piece of modern Thai film.
I really enjoyed Nang Nak.
The boyish looking female lead of Nak will also not have enough 'sex appeal' for some to warm to her.I'm not sure how authentic the setting of it truly is, (I've never been to Thailand), but I found the primitive look of the costumes and housing to be really refreshing.
I thought the director also caught some of the storm scenes really dramatically, and the sequencing of Nak's labour was truly terrifying.
An extremely artistic thriller is probably the best description of this Thai urban legend about the most loyal wife who serves her husband even after she has died.
Mac returns home form the war to live with his wife Nak and newborn baby after being nursed back to health by some monks.
When he gets home he's unaware that both his wife and child are ghosts.
So, when his neighbours and friends try to warn him, he doesn't believe them and also contributing to it is that his wife tells him that their friends treated her poorly when he was gone.A damn right weird, but beautifully told and directed horror feature from Thailand.
One reason for that is the good performances, and that's especially from Winai Kraibutr as Mak and Intira Jaroenpura as Nak. You do care for these characters.
I just wanted to react to a previous Thai commentator meaning that "foreigners will not understand the legend behind this film".
Of course this movie sets a traditional tale of Thai culture.
I am not saying anything extremely original here : Carl Jung found out about the universality of messages included in tales way back in time...
I saw this movie at the Brussels Independent films festival yesterday (nov 12, 2000) and I can assure you that the western public reacted extremely favourably and that there was nothing particularly difficult to understand about it.
Great Thai movie.
I've seen a lot of Thai movies and about every 10 years or so they come out with a gem like this.
If you have ever spent some time in Thailand, this movie offers a lot of insights into the culture and superstitions of the country.
Set in the 1860s, the movie moves between two locations—Bangkok and Mak's village.
It takes a bit of getting used to.Not so much a horror story (it's not really scary at all) as a love story, many westerners might be surprised that superstitions portrayed in the film are still alive and well.
Many Thais believe in ghosts such as Nang Nak to a degree not seen in the west.
And having lived here for 20 years, I have seen some things that are utterly inexplicable unless there really is a spirit world.Beautifully shot, well acted and in my opinion, very real to life, this is a good movie—not your Hollywood-style movie but something different.
Based on a Thai legend this is the story of a man who returns to his wife and child unaware that they are long dead.
Its considered a great story of ever lasting love, I call it dull.
Certainly this is one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen, the portrait of life on the river and in the jungle is breath taking.
If I could simply watch the visuals I would be very happy, unfortunately the story of love undiminished by death gets in the way, or rather the way its told.
A moving horror story.
I find that Nang Nak could be considered as a typical example of a sub genre of horror movies.
In fact, the story centers on a young woman, Nak, who refuses to acknowledge her own death.
The High Priest treats Nak like a person who has the right to wish her husband goodbye in order to rest in peace.
The scene in which husband and wife join hands for the last time is charged with aching emotion.
Good Thai Ghost Story....
Ghost stories in general aren't really my thing (though I do have to admit that I HAVE enjoyed some of the stuff from Japan - I'm just kinda sick of it now...) - but NANG NAK is a bit different, as it is an even mix of a tragic love-story and a pretty straight-forward horror film.The setting is 1860's Thailand and Mak is sent off to fight in a war.
His wife Nak, is pregnant - and during Mak's absence, both Nak and the child die during child-birth.
Mak is injured in the war but makes a recovery, and when he returns home, mother and baby are waiting for him.
Mak is unaware that he's actually in the presence of ghosts, and when the local villagers try to convince him of the situation, Mak is unreceptive and refuses to believe - until he begins to see for himself otherwise...NANG NAK was apparently a HUGE success in it's native Thailand - and I can see why.
Successfully blending a tragic story of a love that transcends life and death, with sometimes harrowing horror elements - the film as a whole is very solid.
Personally I found it to drag a bit in spots, and again - ghost stories in general don't really tend to be my favorite - but I can understand why others enjoy this film so much.
The lush tropical Thai environments (much like what are seen in the newly-released ART OF THE DEVIL 2) make an interesting back-drop for this sort of film, and the acting, cinematography, and story-line are all pretty top-notch.
If you dig films like RINGU, A TALE OF TWO SISTERS, JU-ON, etc...but want something different - give this one a shot, you may like it.
Personally, I can "appreciate" NANG NAK more than I actually "like" it - so it gets a 7.5/10 from me...