What Is Best of Times About?
The premise of Best of Times in 274 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a sun‑lit Bangkok where the bustle of daily life meets the quiet rhythm of old friendships, three former classmates find their present tangled with memories that refuse to fade. Keng, now a gentle veterinarian, carries the lingering echo of a teenage love song he once recorded for a girl in a cram school. Fai, a thoughtful nurseryman, once shared his days with that same girl, only to discover her heart had already been claimed by someone else. That someone is Ohm, Keng’s closest friend, whose marriage to Fai adds a delicate layer of loyalty and unspoken yearning to their intertwined lives.
The film unfolds with a tone that balances wistful nostalgia and subtle humor, inviting the audience to linger over the small, everyday moments that define relationships. As the trio navigates a high‑school reunion and the quiet corridors of their adult responsibilities, the story gently probes how past affections can shape present choices. Their interactions are marked by quiet gestures—a shared cup of tea, a lingering glance—suggesting that the boundaries between friendship, love, and duty are far more fluid than they appear.
Against the backdrop of Bangkok’s lively streets and the quieter outskirts where Keng tends to his clinic, the characters confront the universal challenge of reconciling what was with what could be. The narrative’s mood is both warm and contemplative, offering a portrait of three people bound by history, each wondering whether the paths they tread will lead back to one another or forward into new, uncharted territories. The film promises an evocative exploration of memory, loyalty, and the quiet hope that love, in its many forms, may still find a way.
What Happens in Best of Times?
The complete story of Best of Times, from the first scene to the last, in 891 words (about 4 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 3 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Two high school friends, Keng and Ohm, recorded a love song on a CD. Ohm asks who Keng meant to send it to, but Keng doesn’t give an answer. Working up his courage, Keng sends the CD to the girl at their cram school, Fai, who sadly declines because she already has a boyfriend. That boyfriend turns out to be Ohm, who is completely unaware of Keng’s long-cherished crush. Keng keeps this secret and gradually moves on.
In the present, Keng runs a veterinarian clinic, while Ohm is married to Fai, who works as a nurseryman. After a high school reunion, Ohm tells Keng that Fai discovered his affair and they are getting a divorce. The two men end up at a DUI checkpoint, drunk, but Fai bails them out and they receive community-service sentences instead. On the drive home, Fai finds a wounded stray dog and the trio brings it to Keng’s clinic. Fai stays with the dog overnight while Ohm calls his new girlfriend, hinting at a fresh start for him, and Fai’s sadness lingers.
Keng is assigned to teach computer classes to a group of elderly students and befriends two of them: a sly but kind-hearted man and a sweet lady. In class, Keng demonstrates MSN Messenger, while Jamrus—indulgent and practical—sees it differently, and Sompit, who writes every step in her notebook, believes the program can bridge distances and keep memories alive. After the lesson, Jamrus misplaces his car key, and Keng offers a ride home for Jamrus and Sompit.
Keng discovers that Jamrus and Sompit are not husband and wife, though they are both widowed. Jamrus runs a farm and travels six hours from Chumphon to Bangkok each weekend to visit Sompit; their budding romance is known to the class. Jamrus invites Sompit to visit his farm in Chumphon, and she agrees after a date, though Krit, Sompit’s son, does not welcome this new relationship for his mother.
Meanwhile, Fai adopts the wounded dog and names it Saphan-Loi, or “bridge.” She returns to Keng’s clinic with posters of Saphan-Loi, hoping to locate its owner. Their reunion reveals Keng is the boy who gave her the love song, as his signature on the CD’s cover and the medical gown she recalls connect the dots. Fai remembers him, but he pretends to have met her only two years earlier at Ohm’s wedding when he was Ohm’s best man. Fai still regards him as a friend, though she is now divorced from Ohm. She also glances at Ohm’s Hi5 page, where he posts pictures with his new girlfriend’s family, signaling a new life.
One morning, Jamrus comes to Sompit’s house. To spare Krit, Keng fibs about a retreat to Chumphon, and Fai offers to drive Keng there. They stay a few days, and Sompit learns that Krit and his wife are moving to the United States soon. She accepts Jamrus’s invitation to stay, while Jamrus experiences memory trouble at his farm and worries everyone.
The next day, Jamrus shares the backstory of his long-held hope: a 1989 typhoon named Gay ripped through Chumphon, destroying his farm except for the old Malay rose apple tree, which he has treated as a family member ever since. Alone, Sompit tells Jamrus about her move to the United States with her family, and Jamrus proposes to Sompit under the tall tree, which she tenderly accepts.
Keng and Fai later take a fishing trip at night, get drunk, and reminisce. Keng reveals that once he learned of Fai’s relationship with Ohm, he moved his classes to avoid their circle and stopped seeing Fai for a long time. Fai calls Ohm to vent, then impulsively kisses Keng. He confesses that she was his first love and that he has never forgotten her, but Fai does not reciprocate and apologizes for the moment of impulse.
Back in Bangkok, Krit is furious with his mother’s choice, while Sompit pleads to stay in Thailand. Krit laments that she loves Jamrus more than the family, and Sompit eventually embraces him, tearfully vowing she will remain, though the path ahead is hard. Ohm and Keng finish their DUI probation, and Keng musters the courage to tell Ohm about his feelings for Fai; Ohm responds with a calm, pragmatic shrug, saying he plans to marry again and that Fai isn’t the right person for him—she’s more of a fun companion than a life partner.
Jamrus’s condition worsens when he misses a date with Sompit and is found at a gas station, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. His son plans to move him to a care facility, sparking tension as Jamrus resists the change and longs for the farm.
With care in mind, they move Jamrus’s cherished tree to Bangkok as a keepsake. Fai worries about the tree’s survival but helps ensure its relocation. Sompit bids a heartfelt farewell, and Jamrus consoles her that it’s better to part with memories intact. Sompit eventually leaves for the United States.
Keng and Fai find a path forward together, deciding to keep Saphan-Loi as their own pet. Jamrus discovers Sompit’s notebook with MSN instructions and signs in to reconnect with her in the United States. He even sends a file via MSN to Keng and Fai—a photo of the Malay rose apple tree sprouting again in Jamrus’s new home—reaffirming that love and memory can endure across distances.
Best of Times Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Keng and Ohm record a love song on CD” to “Tree sprouts again; final image”. 14 events name a place, across 12 locations.
- 1
Keng and Ohm record a love song on CD
Two high school friends, Keng and Ohm, record a love song onto a CD. They wonder who Keng intends to send it to, but he refuses to reveal. He eventually sends the CD to a girl at their cram school, Fai, who already has a boyfriend.
When:During high school Where:High School / cram school area
- 2
Fai’s rejection and Ohm’s cluelessness
Fai rejects Keng’s message because she already has a boyfriend. That boyfriend turns out to be Ohm, who remains unaware of his friend’s crush. The dynamic plants a quiet tension that will echo into the present.
When:During/after high school Where:Cram school vicinity
- 3
Reunion reveals divorce and a DUI incident
In the present, Keng runs a veterinary clinic. After a high school reunion, Ohm reveals that Fai discovered his affair and they are getting divorced. The two intoxicated men are stopped at a DUI checkpoint, and Fai bails them out, leaving them with community service.
When:After high school reunion (present)
- 4
Saphan-Loi enters the story
Fai adopts a wounded stray dog they found and names it Saphan-Loi. She visits Keng’s clinic with posters of the dog to locate its owner, and the reunion reminds her that Keng is the boy who gave her the song years ago.
When:After the DUI incident Where:Keng’s clinic
- 5
Elderly computer class and new friends
Keng is assigned to teach computer classes to a group of elderly people. He befriends two students, Jamrus and Sompit: Jamrus is skeptical of MSN Messenger while Sompit takes notes to memorize steps. After the class, Keng offers to drive Jamrus and Sompit home when Jamrus misplaces his car key.
When:After the DUI probation Where:Community center in Bangkok
- 6
Romance grows between Jamrus and Sompit
Jamrus, a widower, and Sompit, a widow, begin a romance through the class. Jamrus invites Sompit to visit his farm in Chumphon, and Sompit happily agrees after a date, though Sompit’s son Krit resents this development.
When:During the class period Where:Bangkok (class) and Jamrus's farm in Chumphon
- 7
Chumphon trip and Sompit's leaving reality
Keng and Fai drive Jamrus and Sompit to Chumphon for a visit. Jamrus has a sudden memory lapse, and Sompit learns that Krit and his wife plan to move to the United States soon. She accepts Jamrus’s invitation to stay, even as departure looms.
When:During the visit Where:Chumphon farm
- 8
Memories of Typhoon Gay and the treasured tree
The next morning, Jamrus recounts the story of a 1989 typhoon, Typhoon Gay, that destroyed his farm except for an old Malay rose apple tree. Since then, the tree has become a symbol of resilience and memory for him.
When:Next morning Where:Chumphon farm
- 9
Proposal under the Malay rose apple tree
Jamrus proposes to Sompit under the tall Malay rose apple tree, and she tearfully accepts. The moment seals their commitment even as other life changes press in.
When:During the visit Where:Under the Malay rose apple tree, Jamrus's farm
- 10
Return to Bangkok and tense family dynamics
Keng and Fai return to Bangkok with Jamrus and Sompit. Krit is upset about his mother’s decisions, and Fai pleads to stay in Thailand. Ohm bluntly says he’s getting married again and that Fai is not the right person for him.
When:After Chumphon visit Where:Bangkok
Show the other 5 events of Best of Times Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Jamrus is diagnosed with Alzheimer's
A doctor informs Jamrus's family that he has Alzheimer’s disease. The news unsettles everyone, and his adult son decides to sell the farm to fund his care, leaving Jamrus distressed by the change in his life.
When:After Bangkok return Where:Hospital
- 12
Moving the Malay rose apple tree to Bangkok
To keep a memory of Jamrus, Keng and Fai decide to move his cherished Malay rose apple tree to Bangkok. They worry the tree may not survive but plant it at Jamrus's new home instead.
When:Before Sompit's departure Where:Bangkok / Jamrus's new home
- 13
Sompit leaves for the United States; MSN links
Sompit departs for the United States, and Jamrus signs in to MSN Messenger to reconnect with her, sending a photo of the tree sprouting again in his new home.
When:After departure Where:United States / online
- 14
New relationships and pet Saphan-Loi
Keng and Fai decide to move on with their lives, keeping Saphan-Loi as their pet. Jamrus and Sompit quietly rekindle their relationship, the tree serving as a symbol of their bond.
When:End of story Where:Bangkok
- 15
Tree sprouts again; final image
Jamrus sends a file via MSN Messenger showing his Malay rose apple tree sprouting again in his new home, symbolizing resilience and new beginnings.
When:Ending Where:New home
Who Are the Main Characters in Best of Times?
5 characters, among them Keng (Arak Amornsupasiri), Ohm (James Mackie) and Fai (Yarinda Bunnag): who each one is and the part they play in the story. 4 of them link to the actor’s page.
- K(
Keng (Arak Amornsupasiri)
Played by Arak Amornsupasiri
A compassionate veterinarian who quietly wrestles with past affections and present responsibilities. He teaches elderly students and seeks meaningful connection, showing patience, loyalty, and a gentle humor. His quiet resolve drives the story’s emotional arc as he confronts his feelings for Fai.
- 💼 Vet
- 💞 Romantic
- 🧭 Reflective
- O(
Ohm (James Mackie)
Played by James Mackie
Fai’s ex-husband who is revealed to have had an affair; now married to someone else. He embodies a flawed but ultimately human character who confronts his past and moves toward a new life while respecting past friendships.
- 💍 Marriage
- 💔 Infidelity
- 🕊️ Reconciliation
- F(
Fai (Yarinda Bunnag)
Played by Yarinda Bunnag
Keng’s long-ago crush and Ohm’s ex-wife. She grapples with divorce and aging, while remaining a central connector in the trio’s lives. She shows resilience as she navigates love, loss, and memory with grace.
- 💖 Romance
- 🧣 Resilience
- 🐶 Compassion
- S(
Sompit (Sansanee Wattananukul)
Played by Sansanee Wattananukul
A widowed woman in Keng’s computer class who documents steps in a notebook to stay connected with a distant future. Her gentle demeanor and transformation through friendship with Jamrus reflect the film’s themes of memory and departure.
- 📝 Memory
- 👵 Elderly
- 🌍 Moving on
- J
Jamrus
A farm owner whose memory fades due to Alzheimer's, yet who maintains hope through his Malay rose apple tree and bond with Sompit. His story threads memory, love, and the urge to preserve a life’s work.
- 🌺 Farmer
- 🧠 Aging
- 🤝 Friendship
Where and When Is Best of Times Set?
Best of Times is set in Bangkok, Chumphon and United States (Contemporary, with flashbacks to past relationships). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Contemporary, with flashbacks to past relationships
The story alternates between present-day Bangkok and scenes from the characters’ past. It references a long-ago high school romance and the memory-driven journeys of its characters. A historic touchstone appears in the memory of Typhoon Gay (1989), grounding the film’s reflections on change and resilience.
Where
Bangkok, Chumphon, United States
The film primarily unfolds in Bangkok, where Keng runs a veterinary clinic. It also visits a farm in Chumphon, home to Jamrus’s cherished Malay rose apple tree, and shows Fai in her daily life as a nurseryman. A final chapter follows Sompit’s departure to the United States with her family, indicating the movement of people across borders and the endurance of memory across places.
- 🏥 Vet clinic
- 🏙️ City life
- 🌿 Rural spaces
What Are the Themes of Best of Times?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them First Love, Memory and Aging and Friendship and Community.
-
01
First Love
A youthful crush from high school resurfaces years later, shaping decisions and rekindling an emotional bond between Keng and Fai. The narrative shows how a single gesture, like a love song, can leave a lasting imprint across decades. Music serves as a trigger that revives old memories and prompts honest conversations. The film suggests that first loves can influence present choices when people are ready to listen.
-
02
Memory and Aging
Jamrus’s Alzheimer's diagnosis foregrounds memory as both a fading thread and a catalyst for meaningful connection. The film uses memory to explore love, loyalty, and the pain of forgetting. Objects like the Malay rose apple tree and old notebooks anchor nostalgia in the present.
-
03
Friendship and Community
Keng’s computer class for the elderly becomes a space for intergenerational bonding. Sompit and Jamrus form a bond beyond romance, while the group supports each other through aging and life changes. The film emphasizes caring across generations and shared routines.
-
04
Memory as a Living Tree
The Malay rose apple tree serves as a living symbol of memory and perseverance, linking Chumphon’s past to Bangkok’s present. Scenes around the tree’s transplantation into a new home mirror the characters’ own adaptations. The act of moving the tree becomes a hopeful gesture toward continuity.
What Kind of Film Is Best of Times?
Bittersweet in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Bittersweet
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A tender and melancholic Thai drama that explores the quiet ache of unrequited love and the bittersweet beauty of new connections forged in the shadow of fading memories.
- nostalgic
- melancholic
- reflective
- tender
- hopeful
- unrequited love
- memory and loss
- friendship and loyalty
- aging and romance
- moving on
Content notes: divorce, alzheimer's disease.
Quiz
How well do you remember Best of Times? Test yourself on the story.
