The 13

[fedssocr]

Yet another project related to this story

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/netflix-thai-cave-rescue-series-1235187251/

[reader]

From Coconuts Bangkok

Reenter the cave again and again with two more rescue saga adaptations

A promotional still for ‘Thai Cave Rescue’. Photo: Netflix

The Ron Howard-directed Thirteen Lives premieres today – but not in Thailand – two days after Netflix pinned a September release date on Thai Cave Rescue, a six-episode limited series about the 2018 ordeal to free the boys and their coach from a flooded cave in northernmost Thailand.

Directed by Kevin Tancharoen (Mortal Kombat: Rebirth, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) and Nattawut “Baz” Poonpiriya (Bad Genius, One For the Road), the Netflix dramatization will portray the incident with more emotional heft, focusing on the points of view of the 12 boys and their coach, as well as the volunteers. When it was first announced in 2019, Crazy Rich Asians director John M. Chu’s name was attached to it. 

Billed as “the most authentic and expansive retelling yet,” it was filmed in Thailand and is the only project officially sanctioned by the government agency established to control access to those involved. Scenes were shot at the boys’ homes as well as the cave site.

It will feature a mostly Thai cast led by Papangkorn “Beam” Lerkchaleampote as football coach Eak, and Thaneth “Ek” Warakulnukroh as Chiang Rai Gov. Narongsak Osottanakorn. It stars Urassaya “Yaya” Sperbund and Manatsanun “Donut” Phanlerdwongsakul as Kelly and Pim, who represent real-world hydraulic engineers and park rangers.

That it won government support suggests that audiences should expect a noncritical examination of events, given the complaints from Narongsak and other officials over the depiction in the first cinematic treatment of the crisis, 2019’s The Cave.

Thirteen Lives, on the other hand, was filmed in Australia, and therefore avoided any creative conflict with the government-created 13 Tham Luang Co. Ltd.

The film’s star-studded cast includes Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell, Joel Edgerton, and Tom Bateman. Mortensen, Farrell, and Edgerton play cave divers Richard Stanton, John Volanthen, and Richard Harris, respectively. 

Thirteen Lives will be released Aug. 5 on Amazon Prime, the same day as The Cave is released after a three-year pandemic delay in North America by Lionsgate as Cave Rescue. 

Thai Cave Rescue premieres Sept. 22 on Netflix.

In late June, the boys visited Tham Luang to make alms and pay respects to their rescuers on the fourth-anniversary of their world-gripping ordeal.

[fedssocr]

I just watched Thirteen Lives (the Ron Howard film on Amazon Prime). It was better than I was expecting and gives a lot of credit to the many local volunteers, but focuses squarely on the rescue divers, which is fair enough I suppose. They had to build some quite elaborate sets, that's for sure.

I haven't had a chance to see The Rescue yet because it's on Disney+ and I don't have a subscription to that one. But I feel like as the definitive documentary it's probably better.

[reader]

Boy rescued from Tham Luang cave offered footie scholarship in England

From The Thaiger

One of 12 teenage boys saved in the heroic Tham Luang cave rescue mission in northern Thailand four years ago has been offered a scholarship to study at Brooke House College Football Academy in Leicester, England. Duangpetch “Dom” Promthep, who is now 17 years old, says his “dream has come true.”

On June 23, 2018, 12 members of the ‘Wild Boars’ football team – aged 11 to 16 years old – got stuck in a flooded cave system in Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand with their 25 year old football coach Nopparat Kanthawong. At the time, 13 year old Dom was the Wild Boars’ team captain.

Dom posted online to inform his friends of the good news…

“Today, my dream has come true. I’m going to be a football student in England. I would like to thank Sport Education and the Zico Foundation for getting me this scholarship in England. Thank you to Brooke House College Football Academy to give scholarships to allow “upcountry” kids like me to develop themselves. Thank you also to Oronas Ltd. and Sports Hero Co. Ltd. for supporting me with this important, one of a lifetime opportunity. Thank you to the principal and all the teachers at Wachiralai School and all those who have supported me so far. I would like to thank Coach Zico especially.”

[PeterRS]

What a wonderful ending to his ordeal for this young man - and a wonderful beginning, too!

[reader]

A new Netflix (single episode) documentary about the cave rescue became available in Thailand yesterday. It focuses on interviews with the players, their coach and other key players. 

In my book, this is history’s greatest rescue adventure. What makes it unique is that it’s an event free of corruption, bad intentions or self-serving motives. It is about courage, brotherhood, self-sacrifice and teamwork. And for those of us who believe in such things, a miracle. 
 

 

[PeterRS]

Anyone got any idea when the Ron Howard movie will find its way into Thai cinemas?

[reader]

The studio claims that it’s been approved for release in Thailand. Could be cinemas are delaying it to occur during high season when more international travelers are in town.

[PeterRS]

Thank you.

[Lotusleaf]

I watched it here:

https://theflixer.tv/movie/watch-thirteen-lives-full-85626

[reader]

From Coconuts Bangkok

Thailand will seek UNESCO status for site of cave rescue saga

National parks officials will propose the northern cave where a team of footballers went missing in 2018 be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The cave in Chiang Rai province, where 12 members of the Wild Boars football team and their coach were trapped by floodwaters for 17 days before their rescue, will be nominated for recognition by the U.N. cultural agency as a landmark with historical significance.

National parks chief Ratchada Suriyakul said the department has studied the area and authored a decree to help deem it suitable as a possible UNESCO site covering over 12,000 rai (1,920-hectares) across four subdistricts: Wiang Phang Kham, Pong Pha, Pong Ngam and Huai Krai. He said that he hoped it would win UNESCO designation by 2025.

Thailand continues to take advantage of the massive world interest in the rescue of the Wild Boars to promote tourism in the impoverished region. After three years of closure, the park reopened in October and sees more than 1,000 daily visitors.

A creative agency announced in August that it would spent a billion baht to build a “world-class tourist attraction” where visitors could relive the rescue via a virtual simulation.

Not only that, but a handful of movie projects recounting the events have been released including the Ron Howard-directed Thirteen Lives, Netflix’s Thai Cave Rescue (in which Thai officials were directly involved in the project), Cave Rescue (a re-release of 2019’s The Cave featuring Coconuts editor Todd Ruiz), and the National Geographic documentary The Rescue.

 

In 2021, the United Nation’s cultural agency went forward with the controversial decision to bestow heritage status on the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex despite concerns about the longrunning persecution of its ethnic Karen inhabitants.

Thailand has six sites recognized for their cultural or natural importance by UNESCO: The Ban Chiang Archaeological Site, Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, the Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries, the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, and Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex.

[kokopelli3]

On 10/6/2022 at 8:57 PM, Lotusleaf said:

I watched it here:

https://theflixer.tv/movie/watch-thirteen-lives-full-85626

Thanks Lotusleaf, I did watch Thirteen Lives last night and it was excellent; quite emotional at times in an understate way. The British and Australians who were instrumental in the rescue operations are to be commended as are all those hundreds/thousands involved in the operation.

[PeterRS]

52 minutes ago, kokopelli3 said:

The British and Australians who were instrumental in the rescue operations are to be commended as are all those hundreds/thousands involved in the operation.

So many Thais helped out in so any ways. I always think of the owners of the rice fields close to the cave as they had to be flooded as the cave was drained. They were offered compensation. None accepted it. It was their duty to help, they stated.

[fedssocr]

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2596658/wild-boars-governor-narongsak-dies-of-cancer

[fedssocr]

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2023/06/22/the-cave-governor-has-died-at-58/

includes a statement from the football academy

[PeterRS]

I think there can be no doubt this man was a hero - very much an unsung hero in the amazing rescue of the boys and their coach. He basically had to command a very motley army ranging from the best experts in the world to the villagers who donated their rice paddies for drainage of the water from the cave. 

How sad that he should have died so relatively young! I hope all will remember his words taken from the speech he made when accepting on behalf of the entire team of rescuers the Asia Game Changer Award from the Asia Society in New York - 

“I wish the entire incident would inspire everyone to start living for others. This small change could be a game changer for the world.” 

May he rest in peace.

[reader]

 

“I wish the entire incident would inspire everyone to start living for others. This small change could be a game changer for the world.” 

May he rest in peace.

+1

We forgot about our offs and petty concerns. We were all Thais for those fateful days.

[reader]

From The Nation 

A ceremony was held in front of the Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai province on Saturday to mark the fifth anniversary of the global mission to save young footballers and their coach who were stranded in a flooded cave.

Photos of ex-Thai Navy Seal diver Saman Kunan, who died during the mission, ex-Chiang Rai governor Narongsak Osatanakorn, who died on Wednesday, and Wild Boars football team member Duangphet Promthep, who died earlier this year in England, were set up in the area to commemorate their passing.

The ceremony was presided over by Mae Sai district chief Narongpol Kid-arn and included the offering of alms to 39 monks and a religious ceremony to pay respects to sacred things in the cave and pray for the prosperity of all those who were involved in the brave rescue mission.

The members of the Wild Boars football team, as well as relatives, were present at the ceremony.

 

 

Ceremony at Tham Luang marks 5th anniversary

Ceremony at Tham Luang marks 5th anniversary 

 

[fedssocr]

they've really gotten big in 5 years. It would be nice to hear what they're all doing now

[reader]

16 hours ago, fedssocr said:

they've really gotten big in 5 years. It would be nice to hear what they're all doing now

Coach now appears to be smallest one in the group. 

I’d think that someone will write a follow up account of their lives because IMO it remains the greatest rescue story in modern history.

 

[PeterRS]

Have we ever been told the reason for Dom's death in England? I seem to recall it was some sort of head injury and we were informed the reason would be announced in June/July. Why the delay was never explained. It was surely the saddest episode in this remarkable almost unbelievable rescue.

[fedssocr]

I didn't know that Adul Samon came the US to go to school. He just graduated from high school and plans to become a doctor. Rick Stanton was the commencement speaker at the graduation ceremony. If ABC news puts the video up online I will link to it.

 

[fedssocr]

Here's a link to the story with video

https://abcnews.go.com/International/thai-cave-survivor-reunites-rescuer-high-school-graduation/story?id=101294342

[PeterRS]

1 hour ago, fedssocr said:

Here's a link to the story with video

https://abcnews.go.com/International/thai-cave-survivor-reunites-rescuer-high-school-graduation/story?id=101294342

Oh my goodness! What a wonderful ending for one of the boys! I felt the tears coming back as I watched that vdo.

[reader]

That few were aware of his pursuit of higher education, more were perhaps aware that Adul (Adun)  Samon was the one of the three stateless boys and their coach who were granted Thai citizenship a few months after their rescue. Adun became best known for answering rescuer Rick Stanton question about how many of there are you with a reply in English.  He speaks four other languages, including Thai, Burmese, Mandarin, and Wa, a language spoken near the Myanmar and China border.

Middlebury appears to be a fine choice. One of America's finest liberal arts colleges, the school is well known for its international focus.

The following photo was taken at the age of 15, a year following his rescue.