Parents' Guide to Once Upon a Star

In ONCE UPON A STAR, Manit (Weir-Sukollawat Kanaros) is the boss of his two-man crew, all members of what was known in Thailand as a traveling cinema troupe. In their dilapidated bus, they bring a projector, screen, and films without sound for outdoor performances before remote villagers who would otherwise never see a movie. Using microphones and animated gesticulations, they dub the dialogue live as the films run, usually of movies starring Thai action hero actor Mitr Chaibancha, who died tragically while filming a stunt. During intermissions, they sell medicinal remedies and playing cards. Manit does all the voices and sound effects while their thriving rival company, with better equipment and a more modern bus, have a cast of three, including a woman who does all the female voices. Manit's bosses have forbidden the addition of a woman to his cast -- where would she sleep? How could she travel with three men? But Manit hires a woman anyway, leading to comic scenes in which she hides from the big boss. Manit is pleased that Kae (Nuengthida Sophon) proves herself a talented and experienced dubber, but she's supposedly there to earn some money so she can go to typing school and become a secretary. The inevitable jealousies arise among the men over the presence of a woman they all fall for.