Chocolate announced for Midnight Madness at Toronto

Chocolate will make its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival as part of the Midnight Madness roster.

It's the first Thai film announced for this year's TIFF, the biggest film festival in North America. Thai films that have played at Midnight Madness in the past have included Ong-Bak, Buppha Rahtree and Bangkok Loco. The festival's synopsis continues:

The 2003 Midnight Madness screening of Ong-Bak Muay Thai Warrior heralded action superstar Tony Jaa as the first internationally recognized celebrity from Thailand – an overdue feat considering the nation’s long cinematic history.

Director Prachya Pinkaew and action choreographer Panna Rittikrai ushered in a new era of action cinema featuring no-holds-barred, full-contact fight sequences matched with death-defying stunts, and left bruises all over the genre. Five years later, Pinkaew and Rittikrai unveil a new action discovery: twenty-four-year-old Jija Yanin, the delicate yet deadly star of Chocolate, who seems destined to join other “femmes of fury” like Angela Mao, Michelle Yeoh and Kara Hui.

[...]

With fluid combat moves that emerge as second nature, Zen leaves a trail of cracked and broken limbs, placing her in sight of the vicious gang that her mother has tried to leave behind.

In a manner that echoes Ong-Bak, the plot serves to propel Jija through creative set pieces and acrobatic razzle-dazzle. Already a black belt in taekwondo, which she began studying at the age of eleven, Jija trained in Muay Thai boxing for two years even prior to filming Chocolate. Tackling the role chanting the “no stunt double” mantra, she endured nasty bruises and cuts during the arduous filming regimen, as is revealed in a montage of wince-inducing outtakes at the film’s conclusion.

Prepare to cheer the return of Muay Thai Midnight Madness, but be ready to duck from Jija’s flurry of feet, knees, shins and fists.

Additional screenings of Chocolate will be announced on August 26. Anyway, this is a pretty big deal for Chocolate, and now I can understand why there's been a delay in getting it to English-friendly DVD.

(Via Bloody Disgusting)