Deep Dive: Final Score (2007)
Film Lens
Final Score is a 2007 Thai documentary directed by Soraya Nagasuwan that follows four students—Suwikrom 'Per' Amaranon, Sarawut 'Boat' Panyatheera, Worapat 'Lung' Chittkhaew, and Kittipong 'Big Show' Wichitcharussakul—during their senior year as they prepare for university entrance exams. The film captures their lives over the course of a year, from May 2005 to May 2006, showing their daily routines at school, interactions with family, and moments of leisure, such as attending a rock music festival. The director chose not to conduct interviews, allowing the students' experiences to unfold naturally on screen without manipulation from questions or posed shots.
The narrative centers around the pressure of taking the O-Net/A-Net standardized tests, which are crucial for university admission in Thailand. In February 2006, the boys faced a scandal when the exam results were incorrectly reported, affecting around 300,000 students. Despite this turmoil, the film illustrates how the boys cope with the stress and ultimately achieve their desired university placements, reflecting their hopes and aspirations as average students in a competitive educational environment.
Why Watch
- •Follow Per and friends through their school year in Bangkok.
- •See the impact of a major exam scandal on students.
- •Meet average students navigating university entrance pressures.
Did You Know
•The film follows four students for one year, from May 2005 to May 2006.
•Approximately 300,000 students were affected by the exam reporting scandal in February 2006.
•The documentary was filmed using a high-definition digital video camera.
•The soundtrack features music from indie rock bands like Modern Dog and Pru.
Perfect For
Thai education systemStudent lifeUniversity entrance exams