Nueng Jai … Diaw Kan (Where the Miracle Happens)

Princess Ubolratana stars as a real-estate tycoon who attempts to atone for her daughter’s accidental death by continuing the young woman’s work at a school in an impoverished village.

Directed by Sirip-pakorn Wongjariyawat, the Princess is surrounded by a fine supporting cast that includes Sukolawat Kanaros, Siraphan Wattanajinda, Nisarat Apiradee and Somchai Sakdikul also star.

Free screenings sponsored by DTAC are offered at 10am on Saturday and Sunday at all SF cinemas; 10,000 seats are available. Claim your tickets at 9am. Bring an ID.

Review from The Nation is also at the Thai Film Journal.

Also opening

• A Tale of Mari and Three Puppies -- Based on a true story, the film depicts a dog and her three puppies who were left to fend for themselves in a remote village after a devastating earthquake. Stars Hiroto Ryohei, Sasaki Mao and some seriously adorable canines. In Japanese with English and Thai subtitles at the Siam, SFX Emporium, Esplanade and Major Cineplex Ratchayothin.
• The Sun Also Rises -- Jiang Wen’s third directorial work boasts a stellar cast including Joan Chen, Anthony Wong and Jaycee Chan, and tells four interconnected stories in different time-zones, shifting between a Yunnan village and the Gobi Desert. In Chinese and Russian with English and Thai subtitles at House.
• First Cry -- This French documentary follows pregnant women in Mexico, the US, Brazil, the Sahara, Tanzania, France, India, Siberia, Vietnam and Japan, as they live, work, and give birth. In French with English and Thai subtitles at the Lido.
• Shaolin Girl -- Stephen Chow produces this Japanese sequel to his football comedy, featuring a female martial artist (Shibasaki Ko) who uses her kung-fu skills on the university’s lacrosse team. Thai dubbed only.
• Deaw 7 -- Go behind the scenes of Udom "Nose" Taepanich's stand-up comedy show. At the Lido; no English subtitles.

Also playing

• Chulalongkorn International Film Festival -- The Romanian abortion drama, 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days is the opener of the Chulalongkorn International Film Festival, starting today. The much-acclaimed film won the Palme d’Or at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival and played in sold-out screenings at last year’s Bangkok EU Film Festival. Five more films are screening in Chula’s fest: The Orphanage (on Monday), Silent Light (August 15), This Is England (August 18), The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (August 22) and After This Our Exile (August 25). Admission is free. Screenings are at 5pm on Mondays and Fridays in Room 503BK in the Faculty of Arts. All have English subtitles.
• Singh is Kinng -- Rapper Snoop Dogg teamed up with Akshay Kumar to record the title track for this Bollywood comedy directed by Anees Bazmee, starring Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Neha Dupia and Om Puri. It's showing at 8 on Friday and Saturday and at 4pm and 7pm at Major Cineplex Central Rama 3, thanks to BollywoodThai.com.

Opening August 12

As become customary, Thai cinemas like to open films on big holidays, and HM the Queen's Birthday (also Mother's Day) is no exception. Though it falls on Tuesday, four films will open:

• Wall-E -- Pixar's latest effort, and possibly their strongest yet. This is the heartwarming, moving tale of the last little robot left on Earth who falls in love.
• Hanuman: The White Monkey Warrior -- A martial-arts fantasy from Phranakorn.
• Virgin Territory -- Romantic comedy starring Hayden Christensen and Mischa Barton; a remake of the 1971 Italian film Il Decameron.
• Sand's Chronicle -- A Japanese romantic drama. Opens at House.

I hope to do a bit more an update on the Tuesday openings next week.