I came across A Prayer Before Dawn through a podcast on Youtube between True Geordie and William Moore (Billy Moore). I clicked on the video as it had a caption around martial arts and fighting, things I am very much interested in. So I clicked, watched and was immediately drawn into the fascinating life of Billy Moore. A young man who found himself banged up abroad. There’s a lot to dissect from the podcast so I suggest people have a watch. Just hit in Google “True Geordie and Billy More”. The podcast explores his life as a young boxer and adapting to Muay Thai whilst living in Thailand. A core talking point in the video is the motion film based on his life whilst incarcerated in one of Thailand’s worst prison. This is where things got real interesting.
The movie is based of Billy’s book A Prayer Before Dawn but does not follow it to a T. The movie itself however is a tremendous account on the reality of many people locked up in Thailand, the risk of foreigners playing cowboy in different countries and how fighting but boxing in particular can impact a persons life in positive ways even in hellish environments. I have not read the book yet but will be following the movie. If the saying ‘the book is always better then the movie’ then I am in for a real treat.
The film from start to finish is a rollercoaster of violence, emotion, pain and change. Following a young man battle with drug addiction in the harshest of conditions is one thing, but seeing the traps that he falls into that spiral into a world of chaos is more hard. The film is captivating and does not glamourize martial arts as many of these films centred on violence can do. Instead it throws the audience in the ring and brings light to the fascinating world of traditional Muay Thai along with its beautiful traditions.
If you are a fight fan you will love this movie, if you have been affected by addiction you will be inspired by this movie, if you are going to travel to Thailand anytime soon you will gain the most from this movie. Jokes aside this was one of the best films I have seen this year and to think it came out in 2017 I am a bit upset I discovered it this late. Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire does a fantastic job directing the film and Joe Cole (might know him from Peaky Blinders) continues his aggressive and impulsive character famously seen on the hit TV show; Peaky Blinders. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and has received credible reviews from both audiences and film critics. The latter I couldn’t care less about however films previewed at Cannes should always make you take notice.
Rating: 9/10
zootini 