Thai Film Takes Cannes Top Prize

[gotlost]

A serious positive step and prestigious award for Thailand. Congratulation.

[Mobi]

Well my French isn't up to understanding the French reviews, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least if they are negative.

If it ain't French it ain't no good.

On the other hand, one of the most respected British film critics raved about this film in the Daily Telegraph, long before it won the award.

Thanks to jayboy for the link, and I post below the last para of that review:

Mostly though, Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives is a film about what it means to take care of others, and of the importance of caring and of being cared for. And it’s a film, in its meticulous attention to sound design, its exquisite cinematography, and the patience with which it unfolds, morphs and insinuates itself in our imaginations, that, I hope upon hope, the selection committee of the Palme d’Or will care for as much as I do.

The above excerpt only goes to reinforce what I said in my earlier post that Thais can make extremely good movies and their technical skills are on a par with any country in the world.

Of course a lot of rubbish movies are made in Thailand. That is partly due to censorship, but mainly due to a reluctance to be more creative as the film financiers prefer to follow tried and tested formulas that will guarantee distribution and commercial success.

Now I wonder what other countries follow similar principles in their film productions? I just can't wait for 'Rocky 100' - in which Stallone become world champion zimmer frame basher.

[Jingthing]

I would bet the house that 99 percent of Thais AND foreigners will be bored watching ANY of this director's movies. I am happy he won a big prize. He is an artist. But his films are just not very accessible. I hardly think he is a great example for the future of improving Thai cinema, because there will NEVER be a big audience for his kind of films, here or anywhere.

No I haven't seen this one yet. But I have seen all his other movies and reviewers say this new one has a similar style. Trust me, unless you are a dedicated art film lover, you will be bored as well.

I would love to see a more vital Thai film industry with better quality, more boldly themed films. But films people will actually enjoy watching, they aren't mutually exclusive.

Edited May 24, 2010 by Jingthing

[bolx]

Thai movie wins an international prize in Europe? Now the luvvies in movie making have gone mad

Why?

Please explain.

There are some extremely good, well scripted, well acted, well directed and well shot Thai movies - some of them far superior to the trash churned out by Hollywood etc.

I agree, but none of the good ones involve any of those Thai TV actors! Just seen Ong Bak 3... very disappointing!

[Oberkommando]

Just seen Ong Bak 3... very disappointing!

What did you expect? The first two were atrocious, along with that Tom Yung Gung effort. Absolute nonsense aimed at motocy taxi drivers.

[gl9999]

While it's great a Thai won the Palm D'or. I didn't like the fact that Apichatpong slammed our country and government one day after Central World burned down. He called Thailand 'a violent country' and that our government was run by 'mafia'. His sympathies are obviously towards the Red Shirts.

While he is entitled to his opinion, I find it tasteless for someone to say shit like that while our city was still burning. Like it or not, he represents our country and he should have made more positive and neutral comments. Instead he used his fame to slam our country and government while Bangkok was still burning. That made me sick.

[Jingthing]

I am not so sure saying the truth that Thailand is a violent country and that mafias are pervasive everywhere in Thailand is an explicitly pro red shirt comment.

[Lite Beer]

Two posts in the French language have been deleted.

Forum Rules.

English is the only acceptable language, except within the Thai language forum, where of course using Thai is allowed.

[gl9999]

I am not so sure saying the truth that Thailand is a violent country and that mafias are pervasive everywhere in Thailand is an explicitly pro red shirt comment.

It may be the truth. And like I said, he is entitled to his opinion. However, the timing of his statements sucked. And the way he said it was like he was talking about the PRESENT government.

[Mobi]

I am not so sure saying the truth that Thailand is a violent country and that mafias are pervasive everywhere in Thailand is an explicitly pro red shirt comment.

I agree.

He hardly represents Thailand - he just happens to be Thai.

He won this award entirely by his own sweat, talent and merits and is entitled to have an opinion about the country he was born into which did nothing to help or encourage him.

I believe one of his films has been banned screen here, and there is no guarantee that this one will be screened in an uncensored form, or even at all.

I don't believe he was making an overt political statement, although God knows enough international movie stars use their fame to make rabid political statements 'ad nausium' and no one tells them that they are representing their country and shouldn't say such things.

He was merely echoing what most well informed people know to be the truth.

[plachon]

I would bet the house that 99 percent of Thais AND foreigners will be bored watching ANY of this director's movies. I am happy he won a big prize. He is an artist. But his films are just not very accessible. I hardly think he is a great example for the future of improving Thai cinema, because there will NEVER be a big audience for his kind of films, here or anywhere.

No I haven't seen this one yet. But I have seen all his other movies and reviewers say this new one has a similar style. Trust me, unless you are a dedicated art film lover, you will be bored as well.

I would love to see a more vital Thai film industry with better quality, more boldly themed films. But films people will actually enjoy watching, they aren't mutually exclusive.

I have to admit that I fell fast asleep whilst watching Tropical Malady, even though I quite enjoyed it (up to the bit I zzzzzzzzed off). It had it's poignant moments and was well scripted but too slow and ponderous and long. Mind you, I hope I stay awake in Uncle Boonmee long enough to see this catfish shagging scene - sounds bizarre and quite a feat of capability for both partners.......slippery when wet and slimeball sex?

[Pui]

Thai movie wins an international prize in Europe? Now the luvvies in movie making have gone mad

Why?

Please explain.

There are some extremely good, well scripted, well acted, well directed and well shot Thai movies - some of them far superior to the trash churned out by Hollywood etc.

Lets not get ahead ourselves here. Hollywood on the whole make far better movies than Thailand or anyone else for that matter. I think most Thai's would agree with that.

However this is a surprising achievement from a Thai director and congratulations are in order.

Edited May 24, 2010 by Pui

[TheBarbarian]

Because the journalists form the Nation are not biased they forgot to tell that Apichatpong has lambasted the Thai censors in Cannes and called the Thai leaders "Mafia". At least the Post had the balls to report on these issues, and also the fact that Thailand will probably not see his movie because of the censorship laws. Tres bizarre.

[Mobi]

Thai movie wins an international prize in Europe? Now the luvvies in movie making have gone mad

Why?

Please explain.

There are some extremely good, well scripted, well acted, well directed and well shot Thai movies - some of them far superior to the trash churned out by Hollywood etc.

Lets not get ahead ourselves here. Hollywood on the whole make far better movies than Thailand or anyone else for that matter. I think most Thai's would agree with that.

However this is a surprising achievement from a Thai director and congratulations are in order.

There is nothing that I said in post which is not true.

Of course Hollywood makes superlative movies and most of the greats of all time have been made in Hollywood. No one is denying that.

They also make an increasing number of terrible movies, ( with all these sequels, pre-sequels, teen trash, pathetic comedies, gratuitous horror and God knows what else), as is evidenced by the increasing number of non- Hollywood productions which pick up many international awards, including Oscars.

You may be surprised by the number of excellent Thai movies which have been made in recent years on minuscule budgets, the the technical no-how is extremely professional. I have seen a number of Thai movies which I would rate against many Hollywood blockbusters.

Yes, the numbers by comparison to mighty Hollywood are very small.

By sheer volume alone, Hollywood will tower above countries such as Thailand and Korea (who also make very good films).

Britain also produces good movies which have won countless Oscars through the years, but the numbers are also dwarfed by Hollywood, but would I be 'getting ahead of myself' by stating that as a fact?

There have been a lot of flippant comments on this thread that the award was politically motivated and snide insinuations that the Thai movie industry doesn't know its "best boy" from its 'gaffer'

Just trying to re-address the balance and be fair to an industry that does make it's fair share of well made movies and by general acclaim (except by the French) the award was thoroughly deserved and towered above all the other entries.

[katana]

I remember one the director's previous films, Tropical Malady, was similarly described in glowing terms, but turned out to be rather long and tedious. Hope this one lives up to the hype.

[gl9999]

I remember one the director's previous films, Tropical Malady, was similarly described in glowing terms, but turned out to be rather long and tedious. Hope this one lives up to the hype.

All of Apichatpong's movies are long and tedious. This one I bet is no exception even if it did win the Palm D'Or. You need to be a true cinephile to enjoy his movies.

[crazydrummerpauly]

Of course this film will be banned in Thailand because of the director's total disregard for the use of Boing sounds and slide whistles, and even worse than that, it is rumored that absolutely no one gets slapped on the head in this movie, not even a midget or an overweight katoey.

i love the sound of a well-slapped head but only when there are no naked asses around !...softer, deeper, mmmmm....

Seriously, FANTASTIC news - what a timely contrast to all the bad stuff recently carrying Thailand's image to the world.

[souvenirdeparis]

this morning's Le Figaro *on line article , by Oliviers Delcroix, Emmanuelle Froids , I'll post next the pro-red shirts leftist Liberation 'article .

Radical and surprisingly, the jury chaired by Tim Burton is happy giving the Golden Palm at Uncle Boonmee, who remembers his past lives, a sealing film, slow and obscure symbolism.

The story? In the Thai jungle, a long sequence shot in night fifteen minutes lingers on a buffalo tied to a tree. Bothered by smoke from a campfire, he ends up running away, never to reappear on the screen. Next scene, a black monkey with red eyes appear on the screen. Surprise! We say that is not the end oftroubles. Documentary on the lives of animals, sci-fi or horror? Not at all: Uncle Boonmee, who remembers his past lives recounts the last moments of a beekeeper on dialysis, guilty of "killing too many red (communists) and insects.

That evening at dinner, the ghost of his wife appears. Moments later, it's time for her missing son toarise, disguised asa gorilla with myxomatosis. It verges on the ridiculous. The best is yet to come. In a sort of vision fantasy, a nenterprising catfish creeps between the thighs of a disfigured princess to give her a cosmic orgasm. Uncle Boonmee eventually dies in a cave supposed to represent the matrix or the "womb". Leader of experimental cinema of Thailand, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, 40, signed a mortal journey supposed to be a spiritual odyssey in the land of reincarnation.

Psychoanalysis of bamboo? Political pamphlet encrypted? No, but a chore of two hours including one wonders to whom it is addressed. No date for theaters as yet, but certainly a beautiful palm of lead.

Edited May 24, 2010 by souvenirdeparis

[souvenirdeparis]

This morning's Liberation praise of the film .

(...)

Revolt. "What happens to me?" Asks, flabbergasted, Uncle Boonmee. An entire room of the Palais des Festivals feels the same Nobody, for once, has moved It just happened, something about the collective journey. After which the Buddhist uncle says he even remembered the future. This future materializes in the fleeting image, mysterious boys-soldiers, machine gun in a sling, Pasolini smile on lips. Uncle Boonmee ... is a continuation of a short film shot last year (A Letter to Uncle Boonmee) in which Joe said in his own way, between the lines, poetically, the repression that prevailed in Thailand, better known today under the name of : "red shirts" rebellion. Duringthe official projection, the red shirts, we learned, werereturning north tothe acclaim of farmers. (...)

And,as I learned, from this forum not the French Press,Thaksin and his daughter were gracing the stairs of the Palais des Festivals.

Edited May 24, 2010 by souvenirdeparis

[SabaiBKK]

Well my French isn't up to understanding the French reviews, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least if they are negative.

If it ain't French it ain't no good.

On the other hand, one of the most respected British film critics raved about this film in the Daily Telegraph, long before it won the award.

Thanks to jayboy for the link, and I post below the last para of that review:

Mostly though, Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives is a film about what it means to take care of others, and of the importance of caring and of being cared for. And it's a film, in its meticulous attention to sound design, its exquisite cinematography, and the patience with which it unfolds, morphs and insinuates itself in our imaginations, that, I hope upon hope, the selection committee of the Palme d'Or will care for as much as I do.

The above excerpt only goes to reinforce what I said in my earlier post that Thais can make extremely good movies and their technical skills are on a par with any country in the world.

Of course a lot of rubbish movies are made in Thailand. That is partly due to censorship, but mainly due to a reluctance to be more creative as the film financiers prefer to follow tried and tested formulas that will guarantee distribution and commercial success.

Now I wonder what other countries follow similar principles in their film productions? I just can't wait for 'Rocky 100' - in which Stallone become world champion zimmer frame basher.

you are totally biased, most respected french critics raved positively about uncle boonmee , and myself being in the movie industrie i was really sure he would get the palme d or or the prix special du jury ....and i m french !

[asiawatcher]

Just seen Ong Bak 3... very disappointing!

What did you expect? The first two were atrocious, along with that Tom Yung Gung effort. Absolute nonsense aimed at motocy taxi drivers.

It never ceases to amaze me of the ignorance displayed when it comes to artistic expression - yes we all have a right to an opinion. The forum thread is about a Thai director winning the most prestigious award for filmmakers globally apart from an Oscar in the Academy Awards. But as an aside, perhaps in your ignorance you should be aware there are no rights or wrongs. Expression is the right of an individual. The movies your libel here are in fact Thai icons. If it does not appeal to your taste, big deal! Perhaps (most assuredly) you are not Thai.

Jaa Phanom aka Tony Jaa is a talented, extremely polite and generous individual (from personal experience). He is also directed to perform/act at the request of a director. In both cases mentioned Pracha Pinkaew was the director. If how he performed and the storyline is not to your liking - many care nought. Why do you go to any movie? Are you simply looking for critique to appease your ego?

What is also not common knowledge is Thailand is one of the oldest filmmaking countries in the world having screened the first film to the royal court in 1897. It made its first foreign movie here in 1923. A good site for reference is http://locationthailand.com/new/?id=8a624&...=k2〈=en. Foreign databases like IMdb.com have around 180 films made in Thailand. This site has over 700 including foreign films. Thailand is, and remains, a film hub in a global market.

But to the point in question. The Palm d'Or has been awarded for the second time to a Thai director and in reality that does not happen so close together with many Hollywood people and is thus a very high accolade. Give the man credit where credit is due. Your taste may reject his talent but the worlds recognised industry peers disagree Herr Oberkopmmando.

Heil Hitler - supressor of intellect and arts.

Edited May 24, 2010 by asiawatcher

[animatic]

On Thai TV this morning , had several pics of them.

not a word in the French press about it, really their privacy is well-protected here.

No the french people don't give a flying foi gras about Thaksin.

Only the government doesn't want an embarassment on their hands.

[animatic]

Funny, doesn't sound like a favorable review. His films are on the very boring, slow side, not saying they don't have artistic merit, they do. They are not meant for the mass market, even the director admits that.

Funny (bad) google translation of the French --

Psychoanalysis of bamboo? Political pamphlet encrypted? No, but a chore than two hours including one wonders to whom it is addressed. Out indefinitely indoors, but certainly a beautiful palm lead.

But perfect for French cinefiles.

That almost perfectly describes much of the

grand works (chef d'oevres) of the last 50 years of French art film.

Edited May 24, 2010 by animatic

[souvenirdeparis]

Well my French isn't up to understanding the French reviews, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least if they are negative.

If it ain't French it ain't no good.

On the other hand, one of the most respected British film critics raved about this film in the Daily Telegraph, long before it won the award.

Thanks to jayboy for the link, and I post below the last para of that review:

Mostly though, Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives is a film about what it means to take care of others, and of the importance of caring and of being cared for. And it's a film, in its meticulous attention to sound design, its exquisite cinematography, and the patience with which it unfolds, morphs and insinuates itself in our imaginations, that, I hope upon hope, the selection committee of the Palme d'Or will care for as much as I do.

The above excerpt only goes to reinforce what I said in my earlier post that Thais can make extremely good movies and their technical skills are on a par with any country in the world.

Of course a lot of rubbish movies are made in Thailand. That is partly due to censorship, but mainly due to a reluctance to be more creative as the film financiers prefer to follow tried and tested formulas that will guarantee distribution and commercial success.

Now I wonder what other countries follow similar principles in their film productions? I just can't wait for 'Rocky 100' - in which Stallone become world champion zimmer frame basher.

you are totally biased, most respected french critics raved positively about uncle boonmee , and myself being in the movie industrie i was really sure he would get the palme d or or the prix special du jury ....and i m french !

it had just been voted one of the five most boring by Le Figaro.

Mind you, not that I don't like Thaï films, I even enjoy Thaï series, I'm dubious of the political implications in this case.

[souvenirdeparis]

On Thai TV this morning , had several pics of them.

not a word in the French press about it, really their privacy is well-protected here.

No the french people don't give a flying foi gras about Thaksin.

Only the government doesn't want an embarassment on their hands.

the french people don't give a flying foi gras about Thaksin

how do you know so well about our way of serving foie gras?

[MAJIC]

Cannes winner Apichatpong: an outspoken Thai outsider

by Rory Mulholland

CANNES (AFP) -- Thailand's Apichatpong Weerasethakul, the surprise winner of the top prize at Cannes, has built a career with dream-like movies that shun traditional storytelling.

The 39-year-old is also a staunch critic of censorship by the government in his country, which is currently in the throes of political unrest that has killed dozens and injured hundreds more over the last two months.

Apichatpong works outside the strict confines of Thailand's action-film studio system to make movies such as the surreal reincarnation tale "Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives" that won the Palme d'Or on Sunday.

He is a darling of the international festival circuit and a regular at Cannes, where in 2002 he won an award in a sidebar competition for "Blissfully Yours" and two years later took the jury prize with "Tropical Malady."

The latter was a two-parter that begins as a city love story between a soldier and a farm worker before switching to a frenzy of sex and death in the jungle.

The jungle also plays a prominent role in "Uncle Boonmee," a dreamlike film set in the bush of northeast Thailand that delves into reincarnation, politics and myth.

Apichatpong, who calls himself Joe for short, said after receiving the Cannes award from festival jury president Tim Burton that he wanted to thank "the spirits in Thailand that surrounded us" while making the film.

He said during the festival that he personally has seen ghosts.

His hauntingly beautiful movie sees a lost son return as a man-size monkey ghost, a disfigured princess have sex with a talking catfish and a dead wife return to gently guide her husband into the afterlife.

The Hollywood Reporter film magazine said the director's work was based on the philosophy of reincarnation "as all beings coexisting in one non-linear universal consciousness."

That view is "central to Apichatpong's conception of cinema as the medium with the power to replay past lives and connect the human world to animal or spiritual ones," it said.

Apichatpong, who also makes installations and music videos, was born to parents who were doctors at a rural hospital in northeastern Thailand. He studied at universities in Thailand and the United States.

He began making short films at the age of 24 and in 2000 delivered his first feature, "Mysterious Object at Noon," which mixes improvised narrative with documentary footage.

Apichatpong was at the centre of a freedom of expression row in 2007 when Thai censors objected to seemingly benign scenes in one of his films, including shots of Buddhist monks playing guitar and flying a remote-control airplane.

He said at the time that his treatment by the authorities had left him feeling "ashamed to be a Thai citizen."

The director returned to that theme during his trip to Cannes, telling reporters that "Uncle Boonmee" is a parable "on a cinema that's also dying or dead."

"But you cannot blame Thai film-makers," he said. "They cannot do anything because of these censorship laws."

The film-maker, who has his own production company called "Kick the Machine Films," said he flew out of Bangkok "as the city was burning."

The Red Shirts, who are campaigning for elections to replace a government they deem illegitimate, have mounted two months of rolling demonstrations in the Thai capital that saw clashes and blasts that killed 86 dead and injured 1,900.

"Thailand is a violent country," said Apichatpong. "It's controlled by a group of mafia."

<img src=http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/pics/afplogo.jpg target="_blank">

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-05-24

Published with written approval from AFP.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

At long last some good news.

Congratulations all concerned.