Chocolate | |
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Thai teaser poster
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Directed by | Prachya Pinkaew |
Produced by | Prachya Pinkaew Sukanya Vongsthapat |
Written by |
Chookiat Sakveerakul Nepali |
Starring |
Yanin Vismitananda Hiroshi Abe Pongpat Wachirabunjong |
Narrated by | Hiroshi Abe |
Cinematography | Decha Srimantra |
Edited by | Rashane Limtrakul Pop Surasakuwat |
Production
company |
Baa-ram-ewe
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Distributed by | Sahamongkol Film International |
Release date
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Running time
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110 minutes (Original Thailand Version) 92 minutes (International Version) |
Country | Thailand |
Language | Thai Japanese English |
Budget | 150 million baht ($4.8 million) |
Chocolate (Thai: ช็อคโกแลต; rtgs: Chǫkkōlæt), also known as Zen, Warrior Within, is a 2008 Thai martial arts film starring Yanin "Jeeja" Vismistananda in her debut film performance. It is directed by Prachya Pinkaew, with martial arts choreography by Panna Rittikrai. It also stars Hiroshi Abe and Pongpat Wachirabunjong.
Zin is the Thai lover of Yakuza boss Masashi. Zin was previously the girlfriend of Thai gangster No. 8, who was jealous of her relationship with rival gangster Masashi. After Zin chooses Masashi, he shoots his own toe as a symbolic gesture and forbids Zin from ever seeing him again. Zin asks Masashi to go back to Japan, as they would not be able to be together safely. He begrudgingly leaves.
Soon after, Zin finds herself pregnant and moves into a new place to get away from No. 8. She has a daughter named Zen who is soon found to be autistic. As Zen gets older, Zin one day decides to tell Masashi about his daughter by writing him a letter. No. 8 finds out that Zin is in contact with Masashi and is furious. He visits Zin and cuts off one of her toes to remind her that she is forbidden from seeing Masashi.
Zin is forced to move again to a house shared by a Muay Thai kickboxing school. Zen becomes infatuated with martial arts and from a young age, and learns martial arts by mimicking the moves she sees being performed by the school's students, as well as the martial arts movies that she sees on television, among them Bruce Lee and Tony Jaa films. She also has uncanny reflexes and is able to catch balls thrown at her without even looking. One day when coming home from work, Zin sees a little boy named Moom being picked on in the streets. Feeling sorry for his plight, she takes him in.