Total Bangkok (2006)

Overview

This 21-minute documentary marks the directorial debut of acclaimed Thai filmmaker Pen-Ek Ratanaruang in the documentary format. Though modest in scale, it is a charming work infused with his distinctive style and signature sensibility. Commissioned with support from Nike (Thailand) Co., Ltd., the project explores a passion for football by taking viewers into the lives of amateur players who gather on a concrete pitch beneath the Din Daeng Expressway. Pen-Ek himself was a regular participant in this football community, lending the film a personal and intimate perspective. The documentary serves as a reflection of urban dreamers struggling to find space to play the game they love, capturing their aspirations with a blend of humor, melancholy, and the uniquely ironic touch that characterizes Pen-Ek’s filmmaking.