Fokus: Thailand Film is magic
Celebrating Thailand’s first Palme d’Or, awarded at the film festival Cannes in 2010, we are presenting a selection of Thai films that show the diversity of a national cinema that is little known outside of Southeast Asia, or even more precisely: outside of Thailand. Of course the starting point is the winner himself: Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and his absolutely magical and mystifying uncle boonmee who can recall his past lives (2010). This is not mainstream fare, but rather a sublime, visionary story that will surely confound many viewers. Consider yourself warned: Leave your expectations of logical explanations at the entrance to the cinema. The same applies to Apichatpong’s film syndromes and a century (2006), «a quiet masterpiece, delicate and full of wonder» (Jonathan Rosenbaum). This film was – and still is – banned in Thailand, apparently because of inappropriate portrayals of figures of authorities. The docudrama tongpan (1977) was also banned, but for clearly political reasons. The re-enacted events tell the story of political unrest in the povertystricken region of Northeast Thailand, near the borders to Laos and Cambodia. The film’s form is surprisingly as radical as its story.
transistor love story (2001) by Pen-Ek Ratanaruang is a genre-bender, a comedy-musical-love story, with «more mood changes than the life of Elisabeth Taylor», as one Thai critic put it. From the same director we also have last life in the universe (2003), another love story where destiny plays an important role.
wonderful town (2007) by Aditya Assarat is a true gem – a cautious, heartbreaking love story set in a non-descript post-tsunami town. Our selection of Thai films is spread throughout several sections – no surprise, considering the diversity of Thai cinema. In the Critic’s week, you will find mundane history (2009). Anocha Suwichakornpong’s feature film debut is anything except mundane, described as «a hallucinogenic ode to the universe» by one critic. Her film graceland (2006) was the first short film from Thailand in the official selection at the Cannes film festival. In our Overdrive program, martial arts master Tony Jaa is truly sympathetic as well as amazingly athletic in the first ong bak (2003), while Nonzee Nimibutr gives us a gripping romantic tragedy and a haunting ghost story with her beautiful nang nak (1999). A modest selection of nine films that are far from modest. Our Focus: Thailand is filled to the brim with drama, action, music, humor, history, ghosts, and water buffaloes. Don’t miss this chance to experience the film culture of The Land of Smiles on the big screen.
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