Kleun Cheewit(Waves of Life or Life's Waves)
note: I really love this series. I even watched certain episodes 3 to 5 times, and the whole series twice.
Directed by Aew Ampaiporn Jitmaingong
Main Cast
- Prin Suparat (Mark Prin) as Sathit / Thit (Alvin)
- Urassaya Sperbund (Yaya---number one female Thai superstar in regards to popularity) as Jeerawat / Jee (Geena / Miss G)
- Louis Scott as Chaiyan (Lance), Jeerawat's best guy friend
- Toey Jarinporn Joonkiat as Piyakul or Piak (Nica), the very jealous wife of Chaiyan and Alvin's sister
- Masu Junyangdikul as Jade (Jet/Jate), one who has a big crush on Jeerawat
- Nuttanicha Dungwattanawanich as Dao / Daraka (Lydia), Jeerawat's best friend.
Supporting Cast
- Bua Wansiri as Jane, Jade's sister who has a big crush of Thit
- Noey Chotika Wongwilas as Pim (a starlet envious of the popularity of Jeerawat)
- Prim Prima Bhunjaroeun as Tiwadee or Tiew (Maxine; Alvin's fiancee)
- Jack Chakapan as Way; Thit's reporter friend
- Freudonidas (Freud) Natthapong Chartpong as Pan (Noel), Jee's "cousin"
- Kik Mayurin Pongpudpunth as Ying Jariya, Jee's mother
- Teerapong Leowrakwong as Sittha/Sitta (Omar, the stepfather who is a maniac and a very rich corrupt businessman)
- Santisuk Promsiri (Noom) as Pattana, Piak's father
- Khwanruedi Klomklom as Nawadee, Tiew's mother
- Eckhai Ueasangkhomsero as Suki, Jeerawat's Manager/handler and confidante
- Sriphan Chunechomboon as looknam, Pim's assistant who would do anything for her
- Anant Boonark Aree, Jee's teacher and friend
- Jirada Moran as Jeerawat (child)
- Mai Warit Sirisantana as a Lakorn actor called Ruth
- Surint Karawoot as Pichet/Chet, Thit's police officer friend
- Tassawan Seneewongse as Grandma Jan
among others
Thailand holds a special place in my heart. I have wonderful memories of beautiful places(I have painted some of them) and very delicious food.
MY TOP FAVORITE THAI RESTAURANT OR FOOD DELIVERY SERVICES IN METRO MANILA (in no particular order):
1. BENJARONG ;
3. MANGO TREE ;
4. JUST THAI ;
and
7. THAI TAYO
Even so, in the five decades of my of my life, I have only watched a few Mario Maurer films plus some other flicks led by other stars.
LAKORN- Lakorn are a popular genre of fiction in Thai television. They are known in Thai as ละคร โทรทัศน์ or ละคร. They are shown generally at prime-time on Thai television channels, starting at 20:30. An episode of a prime-time drama is two hours long including commercials. Wikipedia
This is the second Lakorn I have seen during this "pandemic season", and it is the first one I watched that is not a remake from China and / or South Korea (Fated to Love You / You are My Destiny, was the first Lakorn I have seen this season, and Princess Hours, was the third one, plus some episodes of My Love from Another Star --- these three are all remakes). Even it's not a remake from a Korean or Chinese original, it is an adaptation from KLEUN SANAEHA (1983) and KLEUN CHEEWIT (1993) both Thai Lakorns. All three Lakorns were adapted from the 1982 novel KLEUN CHEEWIT (Others say Kluen or Khluen, but when I checked, คลื่น is Kleun, and that translates to surf, wave, roller).
I started watching this on TV (GMA 7's HEART OF ASIA CHANNEL), but I got so impatient so I started to watch the original Thai Lakorn with English subtitles (the Philippine dubbers did a great job so I still watched the remaining episodes at HOA) , and found myself enrapt with every episode. I think I watched all fifteen (15) episodes in two to three days. If this were a book, it could be considered a page turner.
People say I am not very Asian when it comes to honorifics . If you are not my (former) employee or you are not serving me as a customer or something, I don't like it when you call me, "Miss Lara". It gives me a negative feeling (it only applies (to me) if you are in this country). That's not entirely true. If I speak to people casually, it doesn't mean I disrespect them, but it means that I am comfortable with them. I do use honorifics to honor the elderly, those in higher positions, my mentors and some others. Of course, when I'm in other countries, I do my very best to embrace the culture.
When I watch K-Dramas, Turkish Dizis, Japanese Terebisi Doramas et cetera, I realize that using honorifics is imperative.
The use of honorifics in Thailand is also important to note. You wouldn't want them to mistake you for being rude, right?
If you watch Waves of Life in its original language, you would notice how important such honorifics are.
HOW WAVES OF LIFE(Netflix) AFFECTED ME:
No matter how good we are, if people have certain perceptions of you, no amount of good deeds would erase those perceptions if they have already made up their minds.
The story begins where Jee in a beautiful red gown has an action packed scene with her "lover" who turned to be her enemy.
In real life, Jee has never been in love before, but she's so believable that people think that she's so slutty, and that her best friend, Chaiyan(Lance), the Director, is so obsessed with her. In reality there is only one woman for Chaiyan, and it's his uber jealous wife, Piyak(Nica).
Thit is introduced in the story as a very cool lawyer ready to fight for his clients. He and Jee "meet" because of a car accident when he was chasing Sitta's men. Jee was late for an event. She was reeking of liquor because someone accidentally spilled gin or vodka on her. Their first meeting gave a very bad impression on Thit.
The chemistry between MARK PRIN and YAYA SPERBUND(Jeerawat/Jee/Gina/Ms. Gee) is very strong. They are very convincing as lovers and enemies. Even if in real life they have different partners, while watching the series we would think that even in real life they truly love(or hate) each other.
(not exactly sure if I got the right location, but...)
Their hate for each other gets fueled when Jeerawat (Gina / Gee / Jee / Ms.Gee / Khun Jee) accidentally hits Tiewadee (Maxine or Tiew) after she was drugged by Sitta (Omar), her stepfather, so that he could "play" with her.
Good thing Jee's resolve not to fall into his trap was strong. She was able to escape, but unfortunately, it causes Tiew to almost lose her life. She eventually dies in the hospital, which makes the young lawyer Thit super angry with the beautiful superstar, whom he had an earlier altercation with.
THE BACKSTORIES of the characters are pretty interesting. You would love most of them and hate some of them.
For one, because of Tiwadee(Tiew)'s cheerful disposition and thoughtfulness, you would easily empathize with Thit once he loses Tiew because of the accident. Tiew was too shocked to have a presence of mind to jump to the side of the street.
Jee's mom, Ying Jariya, also has a story to tell...Jee's Grandma Jan and her cousin, Pan, also has some issues to deal with.
Jade, a guy who instantly has a crush on Jee when he accidentally listened to Jee's venting, and Jee's best friend, Dao, have some stories to tell to. Add to that sweet Jane, Jade's sister, who has a big crush on Thit.
Jee herself has a sad story to tell. She also has a very good heart. Her real self is far from the image she projects. Tiew's mom learned to love her, even if she's the cause of her daughter's death and even adopted her to become her daughter too(not in place of Tiew, but to be a second daughter). Besides, it's that Sittha who is the cause of Tiew's death and not Jee! Argh!
Well, I don't want to give the whole story away for those who haven't seen it. It's available via Netflix and Drama Cool
The issues in this story are too heavy even if there are light moments and some travelogues, so the maturity level Netflix decided on is 16+ On Philippine television, if I remember it correctly, it is SPG(Strong Parental Guidance).
Kudos to the cast and crew!
(Thanks for dropping by dear reader/s. All the best!)
Comments
Post a Comment