Hi-So, Terrorists in Berlinale Forum

Two Thai films are in this year's Forum program announced yesterday by the Berlin International Film Festival, The Terrorists by Thunska Pansittivorakul and Hi-So by Aditya Assarat.

Making its world premiere is The Terrorists (ผู้ก่อการร้าย, Poo Kor Karn Rai). Thunska's film is produced by Jürgen Brüning, the German producer who's been behind films by controversial director Bruce La Bruce, such as Otto; or, Up with Dead People and L.A. Zombie.

With Thunska's now-trademark explosive combination of political commentary and young men in their underwear briefs, The Terrorists "is dedicated to the deceased and the wounded in the crackdowns on the protesters in Thailand from April 10th-May 19th, 2010 – the number of victims is believed to exceed 2,000 – as well as to those Red Shirts who were assassinated after the incident. Abhisit Vejjajiva's government shall be condemned for its continuing demolition of our country and for its lies and slander of its own people. We curse those who are behind the massacre in the middle of the capital."

As with Thunska's previous film, last year's Reincarnate, he has no expectations of releasing the movie in Thailand – a tact he's taken since his 2008 film This Area Is Under Quarantine was disallowed from screening at the 2009 World Film Festival of Bangkok.

There's more about The Terrorists at ThaiIndie.com and at the film's blog.

Aditya's Hi-So makes its European premiere at the Berlinale. The indie romance starring Ananda Everingham premiered at last year's Pusan fest and later screened at the Tokyo International Film Festival.

(Via Film Business Asia)