‘Follow’

(Up Close with Your Idol)

72 min, Thailand, 2019, Thai (No ENGLISH subtitles)

Forrest Gump said you never know what you’re going to get from life’s box of chocolates. Narcissistic, spot-on selfie media satire ‘Follow’, starring accomplished little kids who want to be stars, looks and tastes like a bowl of rainbow candy. But they are laced with something sharp. Perhaps even a razor blade, embedded in the chocolate bar of urban Hallowe’en legend.

This is no Thai ‘Bugsy Malone’. These are not kids in Big People drag. They are themselves. One wishes in fact that they were not so natural; that the film weren’t so realistic. “Evie, why don’t you do your homework?” – “I’m busy with my business,” says the worldly little girl. What business? “The movie star business of course,” is her barely exasperated reply. In Thai, or rather Tinglish, that’s “Turakij Movie Star”, and I’m so sorry if you can’t speak Thai, because they can’t afford English subtitles.

The real villains are the creepy pied piper adults, including the casually condescending agent played by director Apichit himself, who for their own gain make the children dance, setting them against each other, like puppets on a string. You can follow ‘Follow’ if you know a bit of Thai. (Alice Skinhead)

Director, DOP, Producer : Apichit Ruttanapong

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Cast : Burin Lertku / Pheerawut Wongvongrak / Utsadawut Seemakupt / Anthimaporn  Thaimuang