Young Bao the Movie

Young Bao, is a must-see for fans of Carabao. However, it is overly reverent of its subject and so pales in comparison to the (maybe) sillier 1985 เสียงเพลงแห่งเสรีภาพ "Siang Playng Heng Seyreepaap," (Music of Freedom), the first movie about the band's origins, where the band members played themselves. Both stories appear to be almost completely fictional and only agree on a few key points: Aed was constantly off in a corner writing new songs for the band with a clear sense of purpose; there was apparently an incident where the band was fired from their gig because Aed wouldn't dress up; and he also was a heavy smoker. The new movie is interesting in showing us the political context: The Thammasat University massacre that caused many students activities to flee to the jungle to join the communists. It also caused Aed's father to send him to the Philippines for study to keep him out of trouble. The actor who plays Aed in Young Bao, plays him constantly serious and gloomy, in complete contrast to the 1985 movie where Aed played himself. In that movie, Aed was utterly charming, upbeat, and always launching into a pep talk about how things weren't so bad and they would make it if they kept trying. The old movie also had some long musical sections that were completely magical. For this new movie, the producers went to a lot of trouble to recruit young actors who are actual musicians. So why not let them play??!! The absence of any new live music was my biggest frustration with the new movie. I don't believe the Young Bao theme song, which is kind of interesting, was even written by anyone in the band Carabao. I think someone else wrote it for this movie.

What if your voice, your guitar, and your convictions could all come together to shake the foundations of society?

Young Bao (2013) tells the early story of Carabao, one of Thailand's most iconic bands of all time. Set in the late 1970s, the film follows how young Thai students studying in the Philippines-Aed, Kiew, Khai, and others-meet, bond over music, and decide to bring their passion for social justice back home as their country reels under political unrest. It captures the band's birth amid the aftermath of the Thammasat University massacre, a vivid backdrop that shapes their lyrics, their identity, and their resolve.

From an analytical perspective, Young Bao shines when it roots the personal in the political. The performances are earnest-actors portraying real-life musicians capture both youthful idealism and the weight of witnessing injustice. The script earns points for weaving historical detail (student activism, censorship, exile) without losing sight of the core: the transforming power of song. Cinematography and setting do much of the heavy lifting here-scenes of cramped dorm rooms in Manila, illicit gigs, and clandestine meetings under the cover of darkness build tension and urgency. But the film isn't perfect. It sometimes feels reverent to a fault, avoiding sharper critiques and challenging questions that might disturb idolization. Some storytelling arcs are smoothed over, with character flaws, internal band conflicts, or moral ambiguity, though hinted at, rarely reaching full development. The pacing dips in parts, especially when historical exposition takes precedence over emotional connection. Still, when music crescendos, the film's heart is undeniable.

Rating: 7/10. A stirring tribute to Carabao's roots that blends music, history, and idealism-moving even if occasionally too polished.