Thai film 'Gohan' explores bond between humans and stray dogs

Acclaimed Thai pet drama "Gohan" is set for release in China on June 26, exploring the bond of companionship and healing between humans and stray dogs.

A still from "Gohan." [Photo courtesy of Road Pictures]

Director Nattawut "Baz" Poonpiriya, who helmed the film alongside Chayanop Boonprakob and Atta Hemwadee, traveled to China to promote the film on June 18. At the China premiere, he said his only motivation for making the film stemmed from his love for dogs and his interest in stray animal welfare.

"Gohan" follows a stray dog's decade-long journey with temporary owners, through joy and sorrow, hellos and goodbyes. From the team behind the global hit "How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies," the film continues the studio's tradition of warm, heartfelt storytelling.

The Beijing premiere drew devoted fans, pet-owning families and animal welfare volunteers, many of whom responded emotionally during the screening.

Known for the drama-thriller "Bad Genius," Poonpiriya said the film was inspired by the real-life conditions of stray dogs on the streets of Thailand. The lead dog is actually a stray he personally rescued before filming began.

Poonpiriya said he hoped to capture the loneliness and anxiety of people in modern life, challenging the notion that humans are the sole saviors of animals — and that it is just as often animals that heal us.

Actors Tu Tontawan Tantivejakul and Jaonaay Jinjett Wattanas pose with director Nattawut "Baz" Poonpiriya at the China premiere of "Gohan" in Beijing, June 18, 2026. [Photo courtesy of Road Pictures]

Actors Tu Tontawan Tantivejakul and Jaonaay Jinjett Wattanas also traveled to Beijing with the director to promote the film.

"Dogs are the purest companions for humans. They never judge or criticize us. Their long-term companionship gives us the strength to move forward, heals our anxieties and helps us become better versions of ourselves," Tu said.

She added that during filming, she spent considerable time with the canine actor, patiently building rapport and trust to present a natural bond between human and dog.

Jaonaay described the experience of working with the dog as different from any conventional shoot. The dog was not bound by scripts or camera cues, filling the process with challenges and unpredictability, yet also producing the most genuine emotional rewards. He said that the cast and crew worked to keep the dog at ease, capturing its most natural moments.

"I hope that through the film, audiences will better understand the real situation of stray dogs, learn the profound bond between humans and dogs, and truly realize that it is never humans who take in stray dogs, but rather these little lives that heal the lost and lonely among us," he said.