'Once Upon a Star' Gets Hand-Painted Poster by Iconic Artist from Heyday of Thai Cinema

To showcase the classic charm of Once Upon a Star, Netflix specially commissioned one of Thailand’s iconic film poster artists to craft a hand-painted poster in a style reminiscent of cinema’s golden age.

Directed by Oui Nonzee Nimibutr, the film is a throwback to the 1960s and follows the ups and downs faced by a traveling pharma-cinema unit. And as films took off during that era, movie posters did too.

Banhan Thaitanaboon was one of the pioneers who produced the colorful posters and billboards that were the paper equivalent of a film preview. For Once Upon a Star, he drew inspiration from renowned classic Golden Eagle, the last film by the beloved superstar of the era, Mitr Chaibancha. Paying homage to the legendary actor, the characters in Once Upon a Star would seek guidance from his photograph for every crucial decision.

For the lead actors, being able to step back into time was one of the most unique experiences during filming, and they were astounded by how everything was meticulously recreated from scratch, down to the red dirt on the streets.Weir-Sukollawat Kanaros, who grew a mustache to immerse himself in the role of Manit, the ‘Man with Five Voices,’ recalled: “When I saw the costumes and the painstakingly prepared props, it was evident that everyone was genuinely enthusiastic about this project. Witnessing their commitment inspired me to be equally dedicated.” 

For Noona-Nuengthida Sophon, who plays Ruangkhae, it was the opportunity to learn the idioms, phrases and words that were unique to that era. “I found it quite enjoyable to dive into the way people used to communicate back then, exploring the subtleties of language from different time periods,” she explained. “It’s like uncovering the linguistic layers of each era.” 

Samart Payakaroon, who portrays Uncle Man, is the only one of the four lead actors that has experienced the excitement of outdoor cinemas. The film is set in 1970 when he was only eight years old but he could well remember the happiness the traveling pharma-cinema units brought to the villagers. “Ordinary drugstores didn’t carry some of the medications available at that time, so these pharma-cinema units were promoting both the films and the essential medicines, making them more accessible to the public.”

Shot in over 50 locations, Once Upon a Star offers a window into a bygone era. “The film industry has gone through a lot to reach where it is today,” said Kao-Jirayu La-ongmanee. “I feel a sense of pride to be part of this project. We’re contributing to the preservation of Thai cinema from the past.”

Go back in time with ‘Once Upon a Star’ on October 11.

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