Directed by Chayanop Boonprakob, Baz Poonpiriya, and Atta Hemwadee, GOHAN is an upcoming Thai film set to premiere in Singapore on 21 May 2026. The heartwarming story explores the lifespan of a dog as he journeys through life alongside different owners from vastly different walks of life. Through these experiences, the film brings audience through an emotional journey filled with warmth, love, separation and grief, leaving many in tears as they leave the theatre.
The film begins with the story of a white stray dog with a pink nose living outside a convenience store in Thailand. There, he meets his first owner, a Japanese engineer approaching retirement. The dog is given the name Gohan, meaning “rice” in Japanese, inspired by the colour of his fur. As a young puppy, Gohan’s days with his first owner are filled with playful moments and quiet companionship as the two slowly grow attached to one another. However, circumstances eventually force them apart, leading Gohan back onto the streets once again.
Gohan is later taken in by his second owner, an undocumented Burmese immigrant searching for work in Thailand. Their journey together becomes one of the film’s most meaningful chapters, as Gohan follows her through difficult yet adventurous experiences across the country. Despite the bond they share, they are eventually separated unwillingly in Bangkok. It is there that Gohan meets his third and final owners – a young estranged Thai couple slowly learning how to love and reconnect with one another.
The film transitions smoothly between each chapter of Gohan’s life, while clearly portraying the sense of loss and longing he experiences with every separation. Across its two-hour runtime, the audience is taken through an emotional rollercoaster that makes it feel as through they are experiencing every joy and heartbreak alongside Gohan. The film’s potrayal of grief and parting is especially moving, particularly during the final sequence of memory flashbacks revisiting Gohan’s journey with each of his owners.
Beyond its emotional storytelling, the film gently reminds viewers of the fleeting yet meaningful moments shared between people and their companions, and the quiet ways these memories continue to stay with us long after they are gone. Starring Tontawan Tantivejakul, Jaonaay Jinjett Wattanasin, and Chatchai Chinnasri, don’t forget to catch GOHAN as it arrives in theatres in Singapore on 21 May 2026.
KAvenyou would like to thank PurplePlanSG for the invite to the movie preview of “GOHAN”.
Review by: JY@KAvenyou
