New Movies: Flat Girls (2025) by Jirassaya Wongsutin: Class Divides and Unspoken Desires in Bangkok's Police Flats

Movie Summary: Friendship Across the Floors

"Flat Girls" is Jirassaya Wongsutin's poignant and subtly observed feature debut, a coming-of-age drama set within Bangkok's unique "police flats" community. It follows best friends Jane and Ann, daughters of police officers, who navigate the complexities of their bond as their differing social statuses, budding desires, and the arrival of a handsome young officer challenge their seemingly unbreakable childhood friendship, revealing the invisible barriers of class and the bittersweet realities of growing up in modern Thailand.

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32362494/

Link Review: https://www.filmink.com.au/reviews/flat-girls/

About movie: https://www.thefilmcatalogue.com/films/flat-girls

Link to watch: https://picl.nl/films/flat-girls (Netherlands), Netflix (India, Philippines, Thailand, Israel, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa)

Detailed Summary: Growing Pains in a Microcosm

• A Shared Childhood, Divergent Futures: Jane and Ann have been inseparable since infancy, sharing childhood games, dreams, and secrets within the close confines of their police apartment block. However, beneath the surface, their lives are marked by differing financial circumstances and social standing, setting them on potentially divergent paths.

• The World of the Police Flats: The film meticulously portrays the unique environment of the police flats – a microcosm of Thai society. It's a place of shared experiences, but also underlying tensions related to hierarchy, aspirations, and the daily grind of working-class life.

• Love, Longing, and Jealousy: The arrival of Officer Tong, a new and attractive resident, introduces a catalyst into their dynamic. His presence ignites feelings of attraction and unspoken desire, leading to budding love, but also seeds of jealousy and confusion between Jane and Ann.

• Unrequited Love and Hidden Truths: As their relationship with Tong develops, and as they face increasing personal and economic hardships (especially Ann), the girls confront truths about themselves and their friendship. Unrequited feelings, dangerous truths, and the stark reality of their social backgrounds begin to strain their once-unbreakable bond.

• A Scandal and Shifting Realities: Youthful misunderstandings and burgeoning emotions culminate in a scandal that implicates both girls, forcing them to confront whether their friendship can survive the complexities of adulthood and the inevitable changes that pull them apart. The film ends with one girl embracing an uncertain new life, while the other remains rooted in place.

Plot Summary: From Innocence to Bitter Realities

• Childhood Innocence in the Flats: Jane and Ann, best friends since birth, spend their carefree days exploring the police apartment complex where their families reside, doing everything from playing badminton to sneaking into empty apartments.

• The Arrival of Officer Tong: A new, handsome police officer, Tong, moves into the flats, disrupting the girls' established world and introducing the complexities of romantic attraction and new desires.

• Cracks in the Friendship: As both girls develop feelings, whether acknowledged or unspoken, for Tong, and as their individual family struggles and differing social statuses become more apparent, their bond begins to fray.

• Confronting Harsh Realities: Ann, facing increasing economic pressure and personal hardships, becomes desperate, while Jane grapples with her privilege and her own identity. Their youthful misunderstandings escalate into a significant scandal.

• The Diverging Paths: The film traces how money, status, and unfulfilled desires create an emotional and social distance between the two friends, leading to a bittersweet conclusion about growing up and the possibility of some dreams, like staying together forever, remaining out of reach.

Director's Vision: Empathetic Intimacy and Subtle Social Commentary

• Meditative Coming-of-Age: Jirassaya Wongsutin, in her feature debut, aims for a meditative and subtly observed coming-of-age story. She focuses on capturing the quiet turbulence of adolescence and the emotional nuances of young friendship.

• Microcosm of Society: Wongsutin sees the police apartment complex as a powerful microcosm of Thai society, using its intimate setting to explore broader themes of class divides, status, and personal aspirations.

• Avoidance of Melodrama: The director deftly avoids dramatic conclusions or sweeping resolutions, opting instead for a realistic and empathetic hand in portraying the complex lives of her characters. She subverts genre clichés, even queer ones, with subtlety.

• Influenced by Masters: Critics note Wongsutin's approach is reminiscent of filmmakers like Hirokazu Kore-eda, blending lighter and darker elements, and recalling the intimate social realism of Ken Loach and Andrea Arnold.

• Authentic Thai Reality: Wongsutin aims to present a lively and authentic reality of Thailand, including its "grimy apartment blocks, blackouts and badminton courts falling apart," to create a "sour place with bittersweet people."

Themes: Friendship, Class Divide, Identity, and Unrequited Love

• The Resilience and Fragility of Friendship: The core theme revolves around the powerful bond between Jane and Ann, and how it is tested and transformed by life's complexities, emerging both resilient and fragile.

• Social Class and Economic Inequality: The film subtly but powerfully highlights the pervasive influence of money and status in Thai society, illustrating how class divides can create invisible barriers even between the closest of friends.

• Coming of Age and Self-Discovery: Both girls undergo a journey of self-discovery, confronting their emerging desires, understanding their place in the world, and realizing that some childhood dreams might not be sustainable.

• Unspoken Desires and Queer Subtext: The film delicately touches on themes of unrequited love and the nuances of burgeoning romantic feelings, with a subtle queer subtext that adds depth to the girls' emotional journey.

• The Desire for Escape vs. Being Rooted: The longing for a life beyond the "flats" and the conflicting desires to escape versus remain connected to their origins is a significant thematic thread.

Key Success Factors: Authentic Performances and Poetic Direction

• Compelling Lead Performances: Fatima Dechawaleekul (Ann) and Kirana Pipityakorn (Jane) deliver strong, compelling performances, anchoring the film with their portrayal of a complex and evolving friendship. Fatima Dechawaleekul's "longing, hurt and undeniably tragic look" has been particularly noted.

• Jirassaya Wongsutin's Directorial Vision: As her debut feature, Wongsutin's "deft, empathetic hand for intimate storytelling" and her ability to find "poetry in police housing" are key strengths.

• Relatable Coming-of-Age Story: Despite its specific cultural setting, the universal themes of friendship, first love, and the challenges of growing up resonate widely.

• Subtle Social Commentary: The film's intelligent exploration of class divides and social stratification provides a thought-provoking layer to the personal drama.

• Strong Festival Buzz: Its selection as the opening night film for the Inner West Film Fest and its presence at the New York Asian Film Festival signify its quality and international appeal.

Awards & Nominations: A Promising Debut on the Festival Circuit

"Flat Girls (2025)" has begun its festival run with significant recognition:

• Inner West Film Fest 2025: Selected as the Opening Night film (Australian Premiere).

• New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) 2025: Official Selection (North American Premiere).

• Early reviews and critical buzz suggest potential for further awards as it continues its festival circuit.

Critics Reception: Quietly Empathetic and Subtly Profound

• The Reel Bits: Described "Flat Girls" as "Quiet and empathetic, this gently observed coming-of-age story captures adolescent friendship and class divides with subtlety and care." Praised Wongsutin's "deft, empathetic hand for intimate storytelling" and the compelling leads. (3.5/5 stars).

• FilmInk: Gave it a score of 7.7/10 (Tender), stating it's a "tender coming-of-age film worth going in blind for" and praising Wongsutin's "subtlety with which [she] subverts the genre's many clichés (even its queer ones)." Highlighted Fatima Dechawaleekul's "master of her craft" performance.

• Dazed Digital: Included it as one of "5 films to watch from the 2025 New York Asian Film Festival," noting it "captures the quiet turbulence of adolescence" and offers a "sharp, emotionally grounded portrait of girlhood."

• Film at Lincoln Center: Praised Wongsutin for "deftly avoid[ing] melodramatic clichés for a poignant and novel coming-of-age tale marked by subtle and poetic storytelling."

Overall Summary of Critics Reception: Critics have warmly received "Flat Girls" as a subtle, empathetic, and profoundly observed coming-of-age drama. It's lauded for Jirassaya Wongsutin's impressive directorial debut, her ability to craft a "poetic" and "honest" narrative that navigates complex themes of class and friendship without resorting to melodrama. The performances of the young leads, especially Fatima Dechawaleekul, are frequently highlighted as compelling and moving.

Reviews: A Slice of Life with Deep Emotional Resonance

• Audience Response (Anticipated): Audiences who appreciate grounded, character-driven dramas with a strong sense of place and emotional authenticity are likely to connect deeply with "Flat Girls." Its relatability, despite the specific setting, will be a key draw.

• MUBI: Listing the film on MUBI (a platform known for curating art-house and international cinema) indicates its appeal to a cinephile audience interested in nuanced storytelling.

Overall Summary of Reviews: Reviews suggest that "Flat Girls" is a compelling and emotionally resonant slice-of-life film. Its quiet power and deep focus on the characters' internal worlds, coupled with a subtle exploration of societal pressures, make it a memorable and affecting experience for those who appreciate thoughtful, human dramas.

Box Office: Limited Arthouse and Festival Release

"Flat Girls (2025)" is an independent Thai drama and Jirassaya Wongsutin's feature debut. It had its theatrical release in Thailand starting in February 2025, and an Australian theatrical release on May 1, 2025, distributed by Cine Asia. Its box office performance will be characteristic of an arthouse film, primarily driven by critical acclaim and festival screenings rather than mass commercial appeal. Specific gross figures are not widely reported for such releases.

Release Date on Streaming: Future Platform Availability

"Flat Girls (2025)" is expected to become available on streaming platforms following its theatrical and festival run, likely in late 2025 or early 2026. Platforms like MUBI, which lists the film, or other VOD services specializing in independent and international cinema, would be likely destinations.

Theatrical Release: Thai and International Festival Premieres

"Flat Girls (2025)" had its theatrical premiere in Thailand in February 2025. It also served as the Opening Night film of the Inner West Film Fest (Australia) on April 9, 2025, and had its North American Premiere at the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) in July 2025. Its wider Australian release was on May 1, 2025.

Why to Watch This Movie: An Empathetic and Insightful Coming-of-Age Story

• Exceptional Feature Debut: Witness the arrival of a talented new voice in Thai cinema with Jirassaya Wongsutin's highly praised first feature film.

• Authentic Storytelling: Experience a realistic and unvarnished look at growing up in a unique Bangkok community, with a strong sense of place and culture.

• Nuanced Performances: The young lead actresses deliver compelling and deeply felt performances that anchor the emotional core of the film.

• Subtle Social Commentary: The film thoughtfully explores themes of class, economic disparity, and societal expectations without being heavy-handed.

• Poignant Exploration of Friendship: If you're drawn to stories about the complexities and endurance of deep friendships, "Flat Girls" offers a moving and relatable narrative.

Move Trend: Southeast Asian Coming-of-Age Dramas with Social Depth

"Flat Girls" fits firmly within the growing trend of Southeast Asian coming-of-age dramas that weave in significant social commentary. Filmmakers from this region are increasingly crafting intimate stories about youth and adolescence, but grounding them firmly in the specific socio-economic and cultural realities of their countries. These films often explore themes of class, identity, urban life, and changing traditions, offering both universal appeal and unique regional perspectives. This trend is gaining significant traction on the international festival circuit.

Social Trend: Youth Aspirations Amidst Economic Disparity

The film resonates strongly with the global social trend of youth aspirations clashing with economic and social disparities. In many developing and even developed nations, young people face immense pressure to succeed and escape their circumstances, often encountering invisible barriers of class and opportunity. "Flat Girls" brings this universal struggle to life through the intimate lens of two young women in a specific urban environment, highlighting the bittersweet realities of dreams that may be out of reach and the emotional toll of navigating a society marked by deep-seated inequality.

Final Verdict: A Moving, Subtle, and Essential New Voice in Thai Cinema

"Flat Girls (2025)" is a moving, subtle, and essential new voice in Thai cinema, marking Jirassaya Wongsutin's impressive feature directorial debut. It's a beautifully observed coming-of-age drama that uses the microcosm of Bangkok's police flats to tell a universal story about friendship, class, and the bittersweet complexities of growing up. Anchored by two compelling lead performances, the film offers a quiet yet profound exploration of emotional shifts and societal pressures. While its deliberate pace may require patience, its authentic portrayal, empathetic direction, and insightful social commentary make it a highly recommended and thought-provoking watch for those seeking rich, character-driven narratives from Southeast Asia.