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Thai film 'Bad Genius' too good to miss
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A still in 'Bad Genius.' (GDH 559/File)
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n a school where kids are used to getting their way with their parents' money, a student with real brains becomes the hottest commodity around as depicted in the high stakes exam-heist film Bad Genius.
Lynn, played by Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying, is a high school students who knows all the answers and earns a place at one of Bangkok's most prestigious high school on a scholarship.
After befriending a less-than-academically stellar Grace, played by Eisaya Hosuwan, Lynn finds herself figuring out ways to answer more than just questions on exam sheets at school.
In the Thai movie directed by Nattawut Poonpiriya, a small deed borne out of a pure intention to help a friend out to pass a maths test in class slowly grows into a multi-million dollar operation that crosses international borders.
During the film's premiere in Jakarta earlier this month, director Poonpiriya said the story was inspired by high school kids' ambition in achieving high grades at school.
"Kids in Thailand today are willing to do anything to get good grades," Poonpiriya told a press conference.
It all started in a mini stunt where Lynn carefully passed an eraser full of answers to a math test in class for Grace, who was sitting just behind her.
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Upon hearing of Lynn's act of kindness, Grace's boyfriend Pat (Teeradon Supapunpinyo) initiated the monetization of the genius' valuable skills for his own personal benefit.
As the stake got higher, together they recruited fellow scholarship student Bank (Chanon Santinatornkul) to join in after some strong convincing due to his initial reluctance.
The film eventually takes Lynn and her team to Sydney, Australia to run an elaborate scheme to help students cheat in the standardized international exams needed to enter university in the United States.
Not only cleverly written, the film presents memorable scenes with cheating techniques taking on creative ways of piano finger playing as the students' adaption of their own Morse code communication.
With a great story line and engaging pace peppered in high tension sequences, the film makes a slide of hand and filling in multiple choice answers as intense as breaking into a bank safe.
As a first feature film for the starring cast, the four newcomers could've easily passed as big screen regulars with their compelling performances. (kes)
