4 Kings (Thai: 4 Kings อาชีวะยุค'90 or 4 Kings ar chee wa yuk'90, lit: 4 Kings 90's vocational) is a 2021 Thai drama-crime film written and directed by Phuttipong Nakthong.
| 4 Kings | |
|---|---|
| Thai | 4 Kings อาชีวะยุค'90 |
| Directed by | Phuttipong Nakthong |
| Written by | Phuttipong Nakthong |
| Produced by | Thanawat Thampreechapong |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Pasit Tandaechanurat |
| Edited by | Dog Back Dee |
| Music by | Terdsak Janpan |
Production company | Kum-Kub-Nang |
| Distributed by | Neramitnang Film |
Release date |
|
Running time | 139 minutes |
| Country | Thailand |
| Language | Thai |
| Box office | ฿170 million[1] |
The film is about vocational students battle between different schools in the '90s.
The film set in 1995 by told through the memories of Billy, a former vocational student who turned to be a single dad with Am his teenage daughter. Though this father-daughter relationship is not very healthy, when Am gets injured from a vocational school gangs fight, Billy reminisces his own and his friends' pasts. In the '90s, there were many vocational schools that were notorious for being rowdy students, in those days the most famous were four schools which were Intaraarcheewasueksa, Changkolburapol, Technologyprachachol and Kanokarcheewa. They were collectively nicknamed "4 Kings".
Billy got depressed when his mother remarried and his stepfather just hated him. His only getaway is his close friends, so he had to do everything to keep and protect his comradeship with his schoolmates. Billy encountered all sorts of conflicts and lost his best friend. It is such a big life lesson that he has to pay back until these days.
The film based on actual events in Thai society about the issue of quarrels among teenage vocational students which injures unrelated persons as well. They often fought on the streets, on buses, or at bus stops. Film director and writer Phuttipong Nakthong had been through these terrible times and therefore used his own experience to convey it into a screenplay. It took up to 7 years for production to be released. It is his debut film from newlyn motion picture production company Neramitnang Film.[2]
4 Kings develops itself from a short film in same title released on social media in mid-2015 about a battle between vocational students until it became very well known.[2]
When it was released, it quickly gained popularity and became a phenomenon. It was No. 1 at the box office on opening weekend, with a total income of ฿50 million after only 4 days of showing, beating Thai-South Korean found footage mockumentary horror film The Medium from the top spot. Separately, Thai Civilized Party leader Mongkolkit Suksintharanon on December 14 invited vocational students to join him at Esplanade Cineplex Ngamwongwan-Khae Rai to watch the film.[3]
At each screening in theatres in various locations, vocational students often gather to watch the film. And they often fight after it ends. It has been observed whether this is a film imitation behavior.[4][5][6]
The film has been in theatres for 9 weeks in a row. Total revenue of ฿170 million was considered the highest grossing Thai film in the year.[1]
It was selected to screen at the 17th Japan Asian Film Festival or Osaka Asian Film Festival 2022 as a special program New Action! Southeast Asia between March 10–20, 2022, as well as being nominated for 2 awards.[7]
It was shown again as an outdoor cinema in the evening of July 14, 2022 at the Vachirabenjatas Park (Rot Fai Park) as part of Open-Air Movie Festival by Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).[8]
| Award | Subject | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18th Kom Chad Luek Awards[9] | Best Actor | Itkron Pungkiatrussamee | Won |
| Best Supporting Actor | Ukrit Willibrord Dongabriel | Won | |
| Osaka Asian Film Festival 2022[7] | Audience Award | 4 Kings | Nominated |
| ABC Award | 4 Kings | Nominated | |