Gohan (film)

The film follows the story of a white stray puppy with a pink nose that lives, eats, and sleeps in front of a 7-Eleven in Si Racha, Chonburi. One day, Hiro, a Japanese automotive engineer nearing retirement, unexpectedly takes him in and names him "Gohan."^[a] This period of his life is filled with joy and playfulness, bringing warmth and companionship to Hiro in his old age. However, their time together is cut short when Hiro passes away from COVID-19.

As a young dog, Gohan is later taken to a dog shelter run by Goong, who uses it as a front for exploiting stray dogs for profit. Fortunately, he is protected and rescued by Namcha, an undocumented migrant worker from Myanmar who deeply cares for animals. As they travel to Bangkok together, she gives him a new name, "Brownie," after the dessert he seems to love, marking a new chapter in his life. Along the way, Gohan shows his bravery in helping her. In the end, however, Namcha cannot stay with him and leaves him on a train from Chachoengsao to Bangkok.

Gohan eventually settles at Hua Takhe railway station, once again living as a stray. There, he meets a young couple, Pelé and Jaidee, who often visit him over the four years of their university life, especially Jaidee, who grows particularly attached to him. She also gives him another name, "Hima"^[b], inspired by the color of his fur. After they graduate, the couple breaks up, and Jaidee distances herself from Pelé, even when he tries to reconcile.

One day, in his old age, Gohan, now frail and losing his senses, is hit by a motorcycle. This leads Jaidee to discover that he is suffering from end-stage kidney disease, with only about three months left to live. Out of concern, she takes him in to care for him, while Pelé returns, hoping to help as well. Through Gohan, both of them come to understand the true meaning of "love", while he himself finally finds a place he can truly call "home."

• Kitachima Yasushi as Hiro
• Poe Mamhe Thar as Namcha
• Jinjett Wattanasin as Pelé
• Tontawan Tantivejakul as Jaidee
• Chartchai Chinsri as Paitoon
• Nopphand Boonyai as Goong
• Gohan is portrayed by three different dogs to represent the transitions across the three stages of his life:^[3]
  • Hima as Hima (Gohan in old age)
  • Meechok (lucky) as Brownie (Gohan in young dog)
  • Kori as Gohan (puppy age)

• Jarinporn Joonkiat as Meaow
• Ryota Omi as Sawada

Vanridee Pongsittisak, the film's producer, revealed that the project originated from her and Nattawut's love for dogs, which inspired the idea of creating a film centered around dogs. Later, Nattawut invited her to help develop the project, leading Vanaridee to gather ideas and bring on two additional directors, Chayonop and Atta, who shared a similar vision for a dog-centered film. Originally, Nattawut served as a producer, but he eventually became a co-director as well. The creative team collaboratively wrote the screenplay, portraying the journey of a dog named "Gohang" across three stages of life: childhood, adolescence, and old age, with each director responsible for telling the story of Gohang during one distinct stage of life.^[4]

In October 2025, Jina Osothsilp, CEO of GDH 559, officially organized a blessing ceremony to mark the start of principal photography. The film features actors from three countries: Thailand, Japan, and Myanmar.^[5]

In February 2026, the official poster was released. Later, on March 4, 2026, a press conference was held to officially launch the movie at PAW YARD, EmSphere, Bangkok. Following that, on April 1, 2026, a gala premiere took place, featuring the debut of a large Gohan mascot at Paragon Cineplex, Siam Paragon.^[6][7]

The film was pre-sold in Southeast Asia and parts of East Asia prior to the promotional trailer screenings at the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin in early 2026. Additional distribution was arranged for Latin America, and the film also attracted interest from Eastern Europe, Australia, New Zealand, India, North America, and Spain.^[8]

The film also had its official debut at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in France.^[9][10]

Gohan is divided into three parts based on Gohan's life stages: childhood, adulthood, and old age. Each segment is directed by a different filmmaker, Chayanop Boonprakob directs the childhood portion, Nattawut Poonpiriya directs the adult years, and Atta Hemwadee directs the old-age segment.

The dogs portraying Gohan at each stage are real dogs of matching ages, three in total, and all have backgrounds as stray dogs. For example, Hima, who plays Gohan in old age, was originally a stray found at a market in Chiang Mai. He had only recently been abandoned by his owner when Nattawut happened to come across him and brought him to Bangkok for treatment. Atta, the director of this segment, drew inspiration from a real dog also named Hima in the story, a beloved campus dog at the Department of Visual Communication, Faculty of Architecture, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) during his student years, which led to the creation of Gohan's story in this stage of life.

Meechok, who plays Brownie, Gohan in adulthood, is the only dog with an owner and was already a TikTok star. Nattawut, who serves as both producer and director, had to use various persuasive methods to convince the owner that the dog would genuinely be cast in a film and that he was not a scammer.

As for Kori, who plays Gohan in childhood, the dog had not even been born yet when casting and filming began. The story required a puppy around half a month to no more than two months old. Kori belonged to a foreign owner who was relocating and looking for a new home for the dog. Chayanop immediately liked him upon first seeing him, noting his mischievous yet charming appearance.

Throughout the production, a team of veterinarians and animal specialists was present at all times to ensure the animals' welfare.^[11]

The film was shot in Si Racha, Chonburi province, which serves as the real-life setting for Hiro's workplace and residence in Thailand. It also includes filming at Hua Takhe railway station, an actual location referenced in the story.

Shortly after GDH 559 released the trailer in early March 2026, it received overwhelmingly positive reactions, with many calling it one of the most anticipated Thai films. Audiences were also charmed by the adorable dog and his three owners.^[12]

The film grossed 30 million baht on its opening weekend and ranking first in Thailand outperforming The Super Mario Galaxy Movie as of mid-April 2026. The success of the film is being compared to the 2024 comedy drama film How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies.^[1]

Facebook page Kanin The Movie reviews that Gohan is less about a dog and more about the shared journey of life between humans and a stray that quietly passes through their worlds. While the premise may feel familiar, the film stands out through its intimate and reflective storytelling, capturing fleeting yet meaningful moments that often go unnoticed in everyday life.

Across its three chapters, the film explores different lives searching for a sense of "home," not just as a physical place, but as emotional grounding, belonging, and identity. Each owner's story mirrors Gohan's own journey, revealing how both humans and animals navigate loss, transition, and connection. Despite language and cultural differences, the narrative flows seamlessly, with Gohan, who never speaks, serving as the emotional center that ties everything together.

Rather than pushing for overwhelming drama, the film maintains a gentle balance of humor, warmth, and quiet melancholy, resulting in a heartfelt experience that lingers softly and invites viewers to reflect on the people and moments that have shaped their lives.^[13]

The YouTube channel Filmment highlighted that the film's strongest point lies in its charming, memorable moments with the three dogs, which deliver plenty of laughs and heartwarming scenes for the audience. However, they pointed out a major flaw: the lack of emotional continuity. Each act has its own distinct style, which often forces viewers to "reset" their focus, making it hard to stay fully immersed in the story. The channel owner also candidly admitted that he might be part of the minority who didn't enjoy the film.^[14]