Classic Thai films in the Week of Siam

The last week of every month until August is designated the Week of Siam at House cinema on Royal City Avenue in Bangkok, where classic Thai movies will be shown as a benefit for the National Film Archive.

Not many of the films will be subtitled in English.

Happily, one exception to that will be showing this week, an oldie, but a goodie -- Ai Tui -- a uproarious musical comedy from 1971 that stars Sombat Metanee and Petchara Chaowarat.

A new print of the film was struck for the 2nd World Film Festival of Bangkok in 2004, and I'm overjoyed that it will once again be unspooled.

Directed by Dokdin Kanyamarn (who also co-stars) Ai Tui is part of the week of films under the theme of "Laan Laew Jaa" -- "It's a million!" -- a phrase coined by Dokdin to signify a 1-million-baht box-office smash.

Ai Tui will screen at 1pm on Saturday, March 28, 4pm on Monday, March 30, and will be closing film for the week at 7pm on Wednesday, April 1.

Subsequent weeks will be Than Mui Week (May 28-June 3), featuring films by director MC Chatrichalerm Yukol; comedy (June 25-July 1), featuring more Dokdin movies; Different Kinds of Love (July 23-29) with classic romances, and Week of Sinjai (August 27-September 2), featuring films of leading lady Sinjai Plengpanich.

The media will be a mix of 35mm, 16mm and DVDs. Admission is 120 baht (100 baht for members) for film screenings and 80 baht (50 baht for members) for DVD screenings.

Proceeds will benefit the effort by the National Film Archive -- upgraded to a public organization under an executive decree approved by the Cabinet -- to build a new vault to preserve Thai films.

Daily Xpress has more on Week of Siam, as does Filmsick. You can also check the schedule at House.

(Cross-published at Bangkok Cinema Scene)