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Turning Point: The Rehab Journey and Thailand Bikepacking Odyssey (Film)
“Turning Point” is a film by photographer Wirittipon Withandetsit that focuses on his journey back to a life of activity after tearing his ACL. It follows Wirittipon on his trip from Bangkok to Khao Lak and delves into the minutiae of surgery and post-op recovery. For more on this fantastic film, dive in below…
In what has to be one of the most well-shot cycling films I’ve ever seen, Turning Point is narrated and directed by Wirittipon Withandetsit, a Thai cyclist who utilizes his experience as a photographer to tell a unique story of recovery and redemption. After tearing his ACL in 2022, Wirittipon couldn’t imagine life without the kinds of high-impact activities he’d come to love. Injuring his knee in a fall while rock climbing, the road to recovery wasn’t just physical but mental.
With the added complexity of finding the right surgeon, a post-op mishap that delayed his progress, and so much more, Turning Point is a gleaning example of what it is for normal, active people to undergo the painful process of a serious physical setback. The film masterfully oscillates between Wirittipon’s journey cycling from Bangkok to Khao Lak—a challenge he set for himself after completing his physical therapy—and the grueling process of recovering from injury. Having torn my achilles in 2017, I saw a lot of my own struggle to get back to health in this film. It’s something I’ve struggled to fully annunciate, and seeing Wirittipon’s journey brought a tear to my eye.
All that’s to say nothing of the cinematography and attention to detail Wirittipon has for visuals. Though the language gap isn’t direct, as the film is narrated in English with Thai subtitles, there’s still an obvious communication barrier present. Even so, as a testament to Wirittipon’s storytelling, it all comes through in a truly moving manner.
For more on Wirittipon, check out his socials here.
Further Reading
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