Extra Virgin

The story of the friendship between a young Korean actress and a limousine driver at a hotel in Thailand.

In a small province in Thailand, the life of the former Thai veteran, Yong, casually seems like a typical old man. Even though he currently feels unwell, Yong spends every day with the dream of building a tree-house solely with his own hand, and raising an intelligent niece.

Laila leaves Bangkok, besieged by law enforcement due to political and social unrest, and embarks on a road trip to the town of Pattani, in the far south of Thailand, along with her brother Sugood and Toi, a friend of his, to visit Sainab, the brothers' aunt, whom they barely know.

Ananda has returned home from abroad. Unsure of his career plans, he accepts an invitation to act in a new movie for a famous director. During the filming in a small seaside town, Zoe, his American girlfriend from University, arrives for a week-long visit. But the change of country takes its toll and she soon becomes frustrated with the situation. Meanwhile, Ananda meets another girl on the beach.

Inspired by the case of enforced disappearance of an ethnic Karen activist Porlajee Rakchongcharoen (a.k.a. Billy) who went missing in Thailand near Kaeng Krachan National Park in Petchaburi province, 100 miles (161 km) south of Bangkok. Park authorities arrested the Karen activist on April 17, 2014 for possessing a wild honeycomb and six bottles of wild honey but released him after giving a warning. He disappeared shortly afterward.

In Thailand, a hymn to rice need not always be sung. A dance, or spectacular homemade fireworks can say the same thing. As can a film, as is convincingly demonstrated by this lyrical, beautifully filmed homage to this essential staple food.