The powerful sports drama A Prayer Before Dawn has captivated Netflix audiences, shooting to number four in the platform's top ten rankings after its addition last week. This 2017 film tells the remarkable true story of British boxer Billy Moore, whose harrowing experiences in Thailand's prison system form the basis of this unflinching biographical drama.
The Real Story Behind the Film
Directed by Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire and starring Joe Cole of Peaky Blinders fame, the film adapts Moore's autobiography A Prayer Before Dawn: My Nightmare in Thailand's Prisons. It chronicles his arrest in Thailand on charges of possessing stolen property and a firearm, leading to his incarceration in the notorious Klong Prem prison around 2007.
A Harrowing Prison Experience
Moore's journey begins with his struggles as a heroin user before his imprisonment. Once inside, he faces brutal conditions including transfer to an overcrowded cell controlled by gang boss Keng, where he's forced to sleep beside a deceased prisoner and witnesses violent sexual assaults. His mental health deteriorates as he becomes addicted to hard drugs within the prison system.
The narrative takes a dramatic turn when, after being bribed with ya ba (a methamphetamine and caffeine cocktail), Moore savagely attacks two Muslim prisoners. Following a suicide attempt where he slashes his wrists, he discovers Muay Thai boxing as an outlet for his rage and hopelessness, joining the prison's boxing squad with help from transgender inmate Fame.
Making Boxing History
Prison warden Preecha recognizes Moore's boxing talent and enters him in Thailand's national Muay Thai tournament, making him the first foreigner ever to compete. Despite threats from gang members and suffering from a hernia caused by his drug addiction, Moore fights through the tournament, winning his match by the narrowest margin despite sustaining serious injuries.
Where Is Billy Moore Now?
The film's end credits reveal that Moore served three additional years in Thailand before transfer to a British prison and eventual release through Royal pardon by the King of Thailand in October 2010. Since gaining his freedom, Moore has dedicated his life to supporting fellow addicts while maintaining his own sobriety.
Currently believed to be living in Liverpool, his childhood home, Moore has built a new life with partner Michelle and their son Albie. In a 2021 interview with Big Issue North, he spoke about his ongoing commitment to recovery work and his journey since those dark days in Thailand's prison system.
The Film's Production Details
Interestingly, while the film depicts Moore's experiences in Klong Prem prison, actual filming access was denied by the facilities where he served time. Producers instead utilized Thailand's Nakhon Pathom prison, now converted into a museum, as a substitute location to recreate the authentic prison environment.
A Prayer Before Dawn continues to stream on Netflix, offering viewers a raw, uncompromising look at one man's journey through addiction, incarceration, and redemption through the discipline of Muay Thai boxing.
