Monrak Transistor

Monrak Transistor
Cover of the Thailand DVD release.
Directed by	Pen-Ek Ratanaruang
Produced by	Charoen Iamphungporn Duangkamol Limcharoen Nonzee Nimibutr
Written by	Pen-Ek Ratanaruang Wat Wanlayangkoon (novel)
Starring	Supakorn Kitsuwon, Siriyakorn Pukkavesh
Music by	Amornbhong Methakunavudh Chartchai Pongprapapan Suraphol Sombatcharoen (songs)
Cinematography	Chankit Chamnivikaipong
Edited by	Patamanadda Yukol
Distributed by	Five Star Production
Release date	28 December 2001 (Thailand)
Running time	129 min.
Country	Thailand
Language	Thai

Monrak Transistor (Thai: มนต์รักทรานซิสเตอร์, English: Transistor Love Story) is a 2001 Thai film directed by Pen-Ek Ratanaruang. Blending several genres, including comedy, romance, musical and crime, it is the story of a young man named Pan and his odyssey after he goes AWOL from the army and tries to make it as a luk thung singing star.

The story begins in a jail, where a prisoner is being interrogated. The action is taking place in the background, behind bars and is blurred. The focus is on a bottle of laxative. Seems the prisoner has stolen a necklace and swallowed it. Soon, the necklace is passed. And it's not even real gold.

The old jailer picks up the story, saying the prisoner is a boy named Pan from his home village. Pan is a simple country boy. In the words of the jailer, he thinks about entertainment too much and is not respectful enough of his elders. In other words, he's not too bright. Yet, he is a good singer, and the story flashes back to a village fair, where he's up on stage singing his heart out, with his lyrics being composed on the spot and directed toward Sadao, a pretty village girl who is dancing in the crowd.

A local rich kid pulls up in his truck and asks Sadao to dance. Then, when the rich kid goes to the drinks stand, Pan hands his microphone over to another performer and moves to dance with Sadao. The rich kid returns, and Pan bumps into him, spilling the drinks. The rich guy, with his thuggish friends in tow, orders Pan to clean up the mess. Pan does so by spitting on the guy's shoes. A fight breaks out, but the music keeps going, with a guitarist picking up the beat and screaming a punk song as the fight intensifies.

Pan and Sadao retreat to Sadao's home, where Pan breaks into another song, expressing his love. But before long, Sadao's irascible father shows up with a shotgun, causing Pan to jump into the river to escape the shotgun blasts.