WingedBean

I rather liked how the 1st half of this movie tackled the plot largely surrounding these two girls. From the struggles of identity, parental bullying (looking at you, Jane's mom), to the very difficult realities of friendships with large socioeconomic differences. I thought they did that so well. The acting was also good, and that underlying tension that was always present in the girls' friendship... Loved that.

However, once we get to those last 40ish minutes, they lost the plot, and me.

1. Tong - When he is 1st introduced, specifically when the badminton birdie gets stuck at his window, we get a sense that perhaps Ann likes him. That scene made me get this pit in my stomach. I really REALLY did not want the story to go that way. And for a while, they make you believe that they won't. Tong acts decently. He hangs out with the girls and Ann's siblings as an older brother figure would.

And then Jane sees them that fateful morning, misunderstands, tells her mother, and Ann & Tong say nothing....??? Why? Why did they decide that the plot of a teenage girl still in high school and the 35-yr-old man needed to be a part of this plot? Ann's mom tries to basically sell off her daughter to this man, and no one in the apartment says anything?

Are underage marriages an issue in Thailand? Because that's the only reason I could see for them to add this plot twist. It felt so random, out of place, and kinda just there for shock value. Like 'hey, Ann doesn't have quite enough to deal with, let's add this on there'. WTH??? To me, Tong never gave that predator vibe either, so... I'm disappointed that the story went that route.

2. Ann's conclusion (or lack thereof) - Like the scarf she was about to hang to dry, Ann left and was never heard from again. I understand why she ran. With a life like hers and especially a mother like hers, I don't blame her. However, my brain cannot stop wondering, "Where does a teenager go?" "Where does a young, beautiful, teenage girl, with no money, no relatives to turn to (that we know of at least) go in the Bangkok streets?"

At 1st I thought she jumped, but upon realising that Jane and the rest of the passengers would have at least heard the splash or seen her do it, I scrapped that thought. But where did she go? What became of her life? Did she even manage to survive out there on her own? The story just abruptly cuts off her story after that cruise ship scene, never allowing us to see her again. I don't understand the 'why' behind that decision.

3. Jane's dad's infidelity - Man, I'd even forgotten that Jane's mother was married. That's how little her parents' marriage was highlighted in the show. But I guess they felt the need to pick up that one detail they sprinkled back in the 1st half when they were having that neighbourhood party. I didn't see the point of that whole mini side plot. To show us that Jane could go through problems, too? You know, aside from her mother always insulting her and calling her fat? That her family (her mother, really) could be poor too? I cannot wrap my head around this

Other thoughts:
a. I hope Ann's mother rots in some very lonely type of hell. I hope her remaining children grew up, supported each other, and left her. Left her alone and never looked back. Seeing Earng become the new Ann and learning that her mother never tried to find a job but went back to gambling broke my heart.

b. I'm not sure I quite like what the story insinuated about Tong. Despite that random side quest with the relationship, perhaps not the relationship with Ann, I did quite like him. But that statement right before the end. The statement about being the lookout while the person off camera took the bet... I really don't want to think that he became a corrupt cop. Or perhaps started gambling like Ann's mom

Conclusion: I think had they just stuck to Ann and Jane and the navigation of their feelings, identities, communication styles, and socioeconomic differences, I'd have rated it higher