PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ROYAL THAI EMBASSY

A subtitled film from Thailand about high school exam cheating? Bad Genius is so much more than that. This hugely successful thriller follows brilliant, young Lynn as she earns a scholarship to an expensive private school, although her father has to scavenge for money to keep her there. Her richer classmates are nowhere near as smart yet she lacks their social skills. On enrolment day the beautiful Grace is the only one who befriends her.

When Grace is faced with a daunting entrance exam, Lynn devises a system to relay the correct answers to her. Grace’s entrepreneurial boyfriend sees an opportunity to extend this ‘service’ to the many who are immensely rich but too lazy to study. The cheating formula they come up with – an integration of Morse Code and classical piano concertos – is ingenious and hilarious to see unfold on screen.

A Thai film like this gaining an Australian release indicates that Bad Genius is definitely a cut above the rest. With comparisons to Ocean’s Eleven, this is a ceaselessly entertaining heist thriller with caustic social commentary. Don’t wait for the inevitable Hollywood remake – you can enjoy this fresh view into another culture and compare your own experiences now.

(Please note the ANU Film Group in no way endorses cheating in exams no matter how entertaining.)