Nymph

Original title: Nang mai

Pen-Ek Ratanaruang/ Thailand/ Thai/ 2009/ colour/ 35mm/ 94 minutes

An urban husband and wife travel to the jungle and learn just how precious their relationship is.

It's about a young wife whose husband is abducted by a nymph in the jungle. The stars are "Gybzy" Wanida Temthanaporn from the pop group Girly Berry, Nopachai Jayanama (Lord Rachamanu from Naresuan 2) and NBT anchorman Chamanan Wanwinwet.

Pen-ek is known for his dark, moody comedies like Last Life in the Universe and Invisible Waves. Nang Mai is being billed as his first foray into horror.

"It's different," he's quoted as saying by Soopsip in Daily Xpress recently. "It's surrealistic. My ghost doesn't come out and haunt people in the usual way, but it will definitely thrill the audience."

The film had been tipped as a possible contender for the main Palme d'Or competition. It marks the first time Pen-ek has had a film in competition in Cannes. His previous film, the marriage drama Ploy, premiered in the festival's out-of-competition Directors' Fortnight section in 2007.

Nang Mai is a co-production by Thailand's Five Star Production and Fortissimo Films. Among the producers is independent-cinema champion Wouter Barendrecht, who died when he was in Bangkok to watch a rough cut of the film.

Director: Pen-Ek Ratanaruang

Screenplay: Pen-Ek Ratanaruang

Producer: Saksiri Chantarangsri, Aphiradee Iamphungporn, Charoen Iamphungporn, Michael J. Werner

Cast: Porntip Papanai, Jayanama Nopachai, Wanida Termthanaporn, Chamanun Wanwinwatsara

Music: Koichi Shimizu   

Cinematographer: Chankit Chamnivikaipong   

Editor: Patamanadda Yukol