Film: Teacher's Diary

Sukrit Wisetkaew as Song

This charming romcom from Thailand tells the story of Song, a young inexperienced teaching assistant, played by Sukrit Wisetkaew, who is sent to take change of a remote rural school based on a dilapidated houseboat on a lake. There are four children in his class, all of different ages. Their parents are more interested in having them at home helping with fishing, than studying. Song's clumsy teaching style doesn't help. The kids are not impressed with his jokes and his Maths lessons sends them to sleep. A former wrestler, he is a city boy, and feels very out of place and lonely in his floating home.

One evening he comes across the diary of a former teacher who worked at the school. Ann, played by Thai film star Chermarn Boonyasa, is a wonderful charismatic teacher, who loves her pupils and they love her

Reading through the diaries, Song begins to rethink about his own relationship with the children, and he starts to fall in love with this beautiful woman that he has never seen.

Teacher's Diary was first shown in London recently at the Thai Film Festival at BAFTA. Director Nithiwat Tharathorn, who also co-wrote the script, told the audience that the story is loosely based on true events. The floating school also really exists - although the school scenes were shot at Kang Ka Jan Natural Park in Phetchaburi Province.

This film is visually stunning - worth seeing for the scenery alone - the cinematography is beautiful and the actors give fine performances - especially Chermarn Boonyasak and Sukrit Wisetkaew, - and all the children.

Watch a trailer here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC4aq1Jht3Q