tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762681276595673682.post5981101058015783550..comments2024-03-19T23:22:19.759+07:00Comments on Wise Kwai's Thai Film Journal: News and Views on Thai Cinema: Syndromes and a Century makes TONY's top 50 for the 2000sWise Kwaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00462741207572023832noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762681276595673682.post-66992525741003650752009-11-29T14:18:17.601+07:002009-11-29T14:18:17.601+07:00If you can, check your local public library for Sy...If you can, check your local public library for <b>Syndromes</b>. They might be able to get it through an interlibrary loan.<br /><br />Or if you can buy it, try to get the BFI version from the UK. The American release by Strand has huge, hard-burned subtitles that kind of get in the way of things.<br /><br />Censorship remains a hot-button issue in these days of sensitive politics in Thailand. Most filmmakers will self-censor, I think, but a few, like Apichatpong and Thunska Pansittivorakul, just to name a couple, will push the envelope.<br /><br />But instead of giving viewers the responsibility of deciding and discussing what is inappropriate and why, the government decides for them through censoring and banning films.<br /><br />There is a ratings system now, but it is unevenly applied, with foreign films being leniently classified while Thai films come under more scrutiny. The ratings system is meant to be a guideline for the audience, but is inaccurate the way it is being applied. Hollywood PG-13 movies are rated as G while Thai films that would probably be okay for 13-year-olds to watch are rated 18+.<br /><br />Also, on top of the ratings system, there is still the provision for cutting and banning films if they are deemed inappropriate by the cultural minders.Wise Kwaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00462741207572023832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3762681276595673682.post-76400886645457632302009-11-29T02:19:10.597+07:002009-11-29T02:19:10.597+07:00From what I gather from reading your film journal,...From what I gather from reading your film journal, it looks like "Syndromes and a Century" is one of the movies you enthusiastically endorse. I didn't have a whole lot of spending power this last month to be watching a whole lot of movies (just one Chinese movie called "If You Are the One), but maybe I'll make "Syndromes and a Century" the next one I watch.<br /><br />Another thing you talk about a lot is censorship in Thai cinema. I don't suppose censorship of culturally sensitive material is one of the hot button issues in Thailand?Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14678690874559453426noreply@blogger.com