A breathtaking true story of compassion and tough love. In the borderlands of Thailand’s Golden Triangle, a rugged region known for its drug smuggling and impoverished hill tribes, one man devotes himself to the welfare of the region’s children. A former Thai boxer, turned Buddhist monk, Phra Khru Bah (also known as the Tiger Monk), travels widely on horseback, fearlessly dispensing prayers, health care, education and tough love to villagers far from the protection and support of the outside world. With his Golden Horse Temple he's built an orphanage, school and clinic — a haven for the children of the region, who see him as a shaman, father figure and coach. Stunning cinematography, intimate filmmaking and a compelling story make this film an extraordinary experience of a hidden realm.

Screenplay Mark Verkerk
Photography (colour) Mark Verkerk
Editing Mark Verkerk
Music Bernard Joosten, S.P. Somotow
Production EMS FILMS
Year of production 2006
Running time 96’
Format 35 mm

Mark Verkerk

Born in 1956 in Holland, he is the creative director of the EMS FILMS, Hilversum, Holland. He ran also the Arafura Productions Pty. Ltd., a company specialised in producing low-cost videos highlighting environmental issues. With EMS FILMS he directed and produced many documentaries concentrated on environmental, social and geo-political issues, among them The Heat is on, for an inter-ministerial programme of the Netherlands Government, Eye on… Peru, Kenya, Caribbean, multi-media continuity series to be distributed internationally, and different episodes of Heritage of Mankind.