Wise Kwai's Thai Film Journal: News and Views on Thai Cinema

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Thailand: The hub of it all

Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss. One of the drum beats of the old Thaksin administration that was ousted in the 2006 coup, was that it wanted Thailand to be a "hub" -- of anything. A hub of Asian tourism. A hub of Asian auto production. A hub of information technology. A hub of this. A hub of that.

One of the Thaksin administration's initiatives was to promote Thailand as a hub for film production in Asia. And, it largely succeeded on that score, though not necessarily because of the government's plans. Thailand already was a hub for post-production in the region, with a good many films coming out of Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and elsewhere being processed in the labs and studios of Kantana, Oriental Post, The Post Bangkok and Technicolor. Many of the theatrical prints of Hollywood films for the Asia Pacific rim are spooled up in Bangkok.

The Kingdom is a prime location for films from all over the world -- the list of Hollywood productions filmed here is lengthy indeed, with recent productions that include American Gangster, L: Change the World, Rambo and Rescue Dawn.

So I guess there is nothing wrong with the new government of Samak Sundaravej trying to lasso some of that star power to make itself look shiny, and revive some of those old "hub" initiatives of Samak's ideological predecessor, Thaksin. And I suppose the film industry stands to benefit, if the plans will offer some support.

Following recent talks with film industry execs, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Mingkwan Saengsuwan announced last week that a week-long Thai entertainment fair will be held in September.

Foreign film and music producers would be invited to the fair, which will be a forum for talks with Thai show business executives.

A good deal of cash is on the table, with the Commerce Ministry estimating that 300 billion baht was generated by the entertainment industry in 2007, with 27 billion baht from the film industry, 168 billion baht from related information technology, and the rest from industries such as TV production, animation and radio.

Mingkwan said that in the long term, the government would promote Thai films and the Thai film industry in foreign markets through trade shows and roadshows in foreign countries.

Also, various other agencies, such as the Board of Investment, the Export Promotion Department, the Tourism and Sports Ministry and the Culture Ministry would be asked address the obstacles for the industry and find the ways to draw foreign investment and film shoots. Incentives could include tax refunds, tax breaks and exemptions and a crackdown on piracy.

''A master plan to promote the industry is a must,'' Mingkwan was quoted as saying by the Bangkok Post.

Hmm. By getting the Culture Ministry involved, might the government take a hard look at its censorship of films?

But, since the censorship issue wasn't specifically mentioned in the recent stories by the Thai News Agency and the Bangkok Post, I don't suppose it is much of a concern, as long as the wheels of industry keep turning, and dumping money in the pockets of those in power at the hub.

More information:

Thai film industry at Bangkok Pundit

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Thai action on DVD: Brave, Fighting Beat, Muay Thai Chaiya

Three recent Thai action films are now available on DVD with English subtitles.

The latest release is Brave, the Malaysian-Thai action-comedy-drama starring Mike B., Afdlin Shauki and Supaksorn Chaimongkol. It's the story of a young man drawn into a web of intrigue and made to steal information from a credit card company. This film had some cool action sequences by stuntman Mike, directed by Thanapon Maliwan, but I felt that a poorly dubbed soundtrack and other problems like shaky camera work and what I felt was sloppy editing detracted from it.

Next, is Fighting Beat. This is Mono Film's answer to the popularity of Ong-Bak and Tom Yum Goong, which other Thai studios are trying to harness. It's about a young fighter trying to avenge the death of this father and take back a bar/boxing club that was stolen from him and his friends by some foreigners. Again, this has its moments, but many problems with the story, the pacing and the acting make this one a tough film to watch.

I'm saving the best for last: Muay Thai Chaiya. This was one of my favorite films of 2007, and it has since gone on to critical acclaim in Thailand, with stars Akara Amartayakul and Sontaya Chitmanee winning best actor and best supporting actor accolades from the Subahanhongsa Awards and the Bangkok Critics Assembly. The story is about a trio of friends, two of whom are boxers. A woman comes between them, and as one plunges to the grim depths of the underworld around the Bangkok boxing scene, the other becomes a great fighter and ascends to the top.

Brave and Fighting Beat have been released with English subtitles in Thailand, which is unusual. I've been very busy lately with my new day job at the Daily Xpress, and haven't had time to get to the stores or rental shops to check on these discs, so I don't know about the level of censorship, if any, or general quality of the release. I will keep an eye out. eThai CD has Brave while Fighting Beat is available through Thai Film Journal affiliate, HK Flix.

Muay Thai Chaiya, meanwhile, has been released in Singapore. It played theatrically in Singapore and Malaysia around November of last year. It's available with English subtitles from Movie Xclusive.

(Via Twitch)

Bangkok Experimental Film Festival: The more things change …

The 5th Bangkok Experimental Film Festival (BEFF 5) will be held March 25 to 30 at Esplanade Cineplex in Bangkok, and several other venues around the city.

The festival is a a co-production by Apichatpong Weerasethakul's Kick the Machine, the Thai Film Foundation and Project 304, an independent arts organization.

This year's theme is "The more things change …", exploring the cycles - natural, spiritual, political and economic – that shape life in the 21st century. Curator David Teh says:

Experimental film can highlight the connections between the ordinary and the extraordinary, between public and private, between everyday life and the big picture of society."

BEFF 5 comes amid a debate about Thailand's cinema culture. In an article in Time magazine last year, the Ministry of Culture's Surveillance Center watchdog Ladda Tangsupachai was quoted as saying Thai audiences are "uneducated", suggesting that they were only interested in lightweight comedy.

BEFF 5 organizers counter that this view "contradicts the breadth and depth of Thai screen culture, which wins awards and acclaim worldwide – not just in advertising and mainstream film, but also in independent and non-commercial fields."

BEFF 5 seeks to tap the wealth of experimental screen culture produced in Thailand, and present it to a wider audience in Bangkok and other Thai cities, as well as overseas. Past BEFF programs have toured to the US, Europe, Singapore and Australia.

In addition to Esplanade Cineplex, other venues will be the Alliance Francaise, Goethe-Institut, Gallery VER and Jim Thompson House.

More information:

Friday, March 7, 2008

Koh Phangan Film Festival: Nature and Spirituality

Despite that there is no cinema on Koh Phangan, the island that is infamous for its Full Moon Party will hold its first film festival on April 5 and 6 at Holiday Beach Resort.

Organizers of the Phangan Film Festival have put together a 10-film line-up on the theme of "Nature and Spirituality", featuring documentaries and short films about the environment and meta-physical subjects.

Asian premieres are Na Kamalei: The Men of Hula, about an all-male hula school in Hawaii; The Chosen Ones, about an Orthodox Jew who sets cantorial chants to hip-hop beats; Heart of a Soul Surfer, about a teenage girl surfer who lost an arm in a shark attack; and Suzuki Speaks, a profile of outspoken scientist and environmental activist David Suzuki.

Thailand premieres are the 5-minute Yoga Noga Reyoga, about two monks vying to become the "most enlightened"; Me, My Swami and I, an 8-minute short about a Londoner meeting an Indian guru in a supermarket; Hawaii: Message in the Waves, about people connected to the ocean battling threats to marine life; Through the Eastern Gate, about some Westerners embracing Eastern philosophies and religions; and The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil, about how isolated Cuba has dealt with the energy crisis.

Another highlight is Last Stop for Paul, which was a popular draw at last year's Phuket Film Festival. It's about a couple of filmmakers who record their world travels, which culminate at the Full Moon Party on Phangan.

More information:

Official site

(Cross-published at The Nation Weblog)

Thursday, March 6, 2008

More 'Love' from Bangkok Critics

The Love of Siam took six out of 11 awards while Muay Thai Chaiya grabbed three from the Bangkok Critics Assembly. The ceremony was held on Wednesday at the Miracle Grand Hotel in Bangkok.

Love of Siam continued its dominance of Thailand's film awards, taking the Critics' top two prizes for Best Picture and Best Director. Writer-director Chukiat Sakweerakul also won for best Best Screenplay.

“I hope the film will encourage other filmmakers and producers to make more inspiring films,” producer Prachya Pinkaew was quoted as saying in Daily Xpress.

Sinjai Plengpanich was named Best Actress for her role as the worried mother in the gay teen drama. She missed winning the same prize in an upset at the Subhanahongsa Awards last month. Love of Siam's Chermarn "Ploy" Boonyasak won Best Supporting Actress, repeating her success at the Subhanahongsas.

Other repeats went to the Muay Thai Chaiya pair of Akara Amartayakul and Sontaya Chitmanee, who won Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor for their role as a boxer and his best friend.

The Love of Siam and Muay Thai Chaiya shared the prize for Best Score, the first time in the competition’s history a prize has been shared.

The Best Cinematography prize went to Chankit Chamnivikaipong for Ploy, by director Pen-ek Ratanaruang.

Best Editing went to Chatchai Katenut and Saranee Wongphan for 365 Wan Tam Tid Cheewit Dek Ent (Final Score), a documentary about a year in the life of some schoolboys in their senior year of high school.

The Lifetime Achievement Award went to actor Adul Dulyarat. He starred in the 2004 musical historical drama, The Overture.

The HBO Award for the highest-grossing film last year went to The Legend of King Naresuan: Pegu’s Hostage, the first in the epic historical drama trilogy by M.C. Chatrichalerm Yukol.

(Via Daily Xpress, Variety)

Review: Salad Ta Diaw Kab Dek 200 Ta

Directed by Thanit Jitnukul
Starring Saranyu Wongkrachang, Kessarin Ektawatkul, Narawan Techaratanaprasert
Released in Thailand cinemas on March 6, 2008
Rating: 2/5

You can’t take just any actor, throw a pirate costume on him, stick him on a sailing ship and expect him to be like Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean.

Yet that’s what director Thanit Jitnukul thought when he made the kid-friendly seafaring adventure Salad Ta Diaw Kab Dek 200 Ta. (There's no English title that I know of.)

Actor Saranyu Wongkrachang may have a three-corner hat and an eyepatch, but it takes more to be like Captain Jack Sparrow than a costume and a flask of whisky. Saranyu’s bland Captain Rick fails to elevate the action and laughable special effects involving giant crabs, a vicious car-sized tortoise and a boat-swallowing octopus.

Rick is easily upstaged by the nine brats his character impresses into his pirate crew. He's also outshone by his first mate Dow, played by the hard-kicking martial-arts actress Kessarin Ektawatkul (Born to Fight, Dangerous Flowers).

The real stars are the three boys and six girls. They were on a cruise ship with their parents, but are lost in a storm. They then join up with the dread pirate Rick, and help him battle a rival crew for a cache of treasure.

Among the nine children is Pat, played by Narawan "Grace" Techaratanaprasert, daughter of Sahamongkol exec Somsak "Sia Jiang" Techaratanaprasert. Pat is the older sister of another girl, Ultra (Rojanakorn Yhunha). There's also a pair of twin girls, Plub and Phraew, a half-Thai girl named Jennifer, another Thai girl, a boy with glasses, a fat kid named Oomsin and another boy, Joe.

Rick is nursing a broken heart over his former girlfriend, who has hitched up with the hilariously goateed rival pirate, Nipon (Nirut Sawsudchad). This leads to a few dust-ups aboard the sailing ship, and later at a beachside rave party where banjo music is being played.

The universe of the film is a strange one, with the anachronistic Rick and his wooden, multi-masted sailing vessel, versus Nipon and his luxurious fibreglass catamaran sailing yacht. The most interminably boring swordfight ever is committed to celluloid, while plucky little Pat uses a quad bike to take on the bad guys herself.

Turns out Rick is also the grandson of the "One-Eyed Pirate" of Andaman Sea legend, and has the map to a mysterious, enchanted treasure, which is guarded by giant sea creatures. The critters are possibly blue-screen, possibly CGI, maybe even animatronic or a combination of all three. Anyway, they don't look too good. Better to learn the lessons of this film -- stop searching for any treasure, let the monsters slip back into the sea and never return to disturb them again.

More information:

Official site

(Cross-published at The Nation Weblog)

Trailer for new animated feature: Nak

The vengeful ghost of Thai legend, Nang Nak, is recast in Nak as a kid-friendly defender against evil ghosts, using her stretchy arms to do some whuppin'.

The look of the animation is sometimes cool, sometimes a bit weird.

Nak opens in Thailand cinemas on April 3.

More information:

(Via Deknang)

Three new posters for Art of the Devil 3

One thing I'll say for the Art of the Devil series is they always have some imaginative posters. Three new ones (1 2 3) for Art of the Devil 3 (Long Khong 2) have just been uploaded to the Five Star Production site.

Art of the Devil 3 opens in Thailand cinemas on April 3.

More information:

(via Deknang)

Monday, March 3, 2008

Bangkok International Film Festival scheduled for July

Sharp-eyed reader Kai-m has pointed out that the 2008 Bangkok International Film Festival is listed on the festivals calendar for July by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Here is what the TAT website says:

Once again, the Royal Thai Government and the Tourism Authority of Thailand are delighted to welcome film-makers from all over the world and international performing artists, especially from Hollywood. At the Bangkok International Film Festival not only will major studios and independent film enterprises premiere their films for Asia, but they will also attend the exhibition of “Location Thailand and Film Tech.” Here, marketing and business opportunities await those in the competitive film industry.

Viewers will enjoy an exciting exhibition of spectacular posters that will be available along with seminars and conferences related to motion pictures. Special tours will be offered, while music fans will be enchanted by jazz concerts which add a special flavour to the event.

This is the first I'd heard that the festival will indeed be happening this year, after the uncertainty during last year's festival that it would continue, the reported transfer of the festival to the Department of Export Promotion and then the bribery scandal.

I wonder who's programming the festival? And, I wonder what were the results of the Department of Special Investigation's probe into the festival scandal?

More information:

Saturday, March 1, 2008

13 Beloved, The House head to Brussels

The Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival has just unveiled its full program, and among the films in this genre extravaganza are two Thai films: 13 Beloved and The House.

My favorite Thai film of 2006, and one of the best to come along in a long while, 13 Beloved is a searing psychological thriller directed by Chukiat Sakweerakul and starring Noi Sukosol as a failed band-instrument salesman who is drawn into an increasingly degrading and dangerous underground Internet reality game.

Critically hailed in Thailand, 13 Beloved has been steadily picking up accolades around the world, including Best Asian Film at Montreal's Fantasia Festival and the European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation Asian Film Award at the Puchon fest last year. It will soon be released on DVD in the U.S. by Dimension Extreme, with a cover that I find distasteful and a bit deceptive, but I am nonetheless hopeful the film will find the audience it is intended for.

At Brussels, it is in the International Competition.

The House was released last year, and I missed it for reasons that I can't explain. Directed by Monthon Arayangkoon and starring Nang Nak's Intira Jareonpura, the story is based on a true-crime case about some murders that took place in a creepy old house. Intira portrays a young journalist trying to uncover the truth about what happened in that house. The film did fairly well at the box office and even garnered some critical acclaim for its social commentary.

Also of interest in Brussels from Southeast Asia is the Indonesian film-noir thriller, Kala: Dead Time, by Joko Anwar.

The 26th Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival fruns from March 27 to April 8.

More information: