Suwinit Panjamawat

Tears of the Black Tiger -- With its loud acting style, exuberant sets and stunning shots in pastel colours, this Thai cult film is as much a parody as an homage to the Western and the romantic tearjerker.

Star-crossed lovers Dum (Chartchai Ngamsan) and Rumpoey (Stella Malucchi) fight to be together as the world conspires to keep them apart in Thai director Wisit Sasanatieng's genre bender. Though Rumpoey's big-wig father arranges for her to wed the police chief -- who's out to take down Dum's underworld boss -- her heart belongs to gangster fugitive Dum. Hitting on all cylinders, this turbocharged tale builds to an unforgettable climax.

With its loud acting style, exuberant sets and stunning shots in pastel colours, this Thai cult film is as much a parody as an homage to the Western and the romantic tearjerker.

With its loud acting style, exuberant sets and stunning shots in pastel colours, this Thai cult film is as much a parody as an homage to the Western and the romantic tearjerker.