Thai Film Board Might Resurrect 'Insects' After Its Funeral Yesterday

[webfact]

Film Board might resurrect 'Insects' after its funeral yesterday

By Phatarawadee Phataranawik

The Nation

Around 50 indie filmmakers, fans, lawyers and activists held a "funeral" at the Thai Film Archive in Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, yesterday to protest the banning of gay transvestite director Tanwarin Sukkhapisit's controversial family drama "Insects in the Backyard".

"'Insects' is like my child. I spent over two years making it with good intentions to comment on the [gay] issues in our society. Now, my child has been murdered," the 37-year-old director eulogised in a video posted on YouTube and Facebook. Clad in black, tears welled up in Tanwarin's eyes, which were hidden behind dark sunglasses.

There was then a ceremonial burning of the CD of the film.

Yesterday's plans were to screen "Insects in the Backyard" as part of a seminar, "Thai Film Law and the Thai Constitution", in observance of Constitution Day.

But on Thursday, a letter was sent by the Cultural Ministry's Cultural Promotion Department, warning that the Film Archive had better not show the film, or else the seminar organisers would face stiff fines.

So instead of screening the movie, organisers showed "Tongpan", a 1976 docu-drama about a dam-construction project that at one time was banned because of its socialist-leaning message.

Then the funeral and cremation ceremony for "Insects in the Backyard" was held. Tanwarin has been struggling to get permission to screen the film in a limited commercial run, but has been turned down twice already by the Culture Ministry's film-ratings board and subcommittees.

Among the black-clad "mourners" was popular film-maker Songyos Sugmakanan, who heads the Thai Film Director Association.

Others joining the protest were the seminar participants, moderator and film critic Kong Rithdee, and the panelists, Jessada Anujaree from the Lawyer Council of Thailand, Sawittree Suksri from Thammasat University's Faculty of Law and media-rights activist Supinya Klangnarong.

Organisations taking part included the Thai Film Foundation, the Thai Film Lovers Network and Bioscope magazine.

Ashes from the cremation ceremony will be stored at the Film Archive.

A Culture Ministry official told The Nation that the full National Film Board will meet on Monday to reconsider "Insects in the Backyard".

"Although the result [of the appeal] is not yet known, I'd wanted to make a point about the ban," Tanwarin told The Nation, without knowing the film would be reconsidered on Monday. "At the seminar, I wanted to use my film as a case study on the new Thai film law. It's the first Thai film to be banned under this law."

After hearing about the upcoming appeal hearing, Tanwarin said: "I still have hope to release my film."

"Insects in the Backyard" is the story of a gay transvestite father, played by Tanwarin, whose teenage daughter and son have a confused sense of their own sexuality. They both enter the sex trade. The movie has scenes involving masturbation, the teenagers engaging in various sex acts and a brief glimpse of the film-maker's penis.

The movie was selected for the Dragons and Tigers competition at the Vancouver International Film Festival, and also screened at the World Film Festival of Bangkok.

Tanwarin was hoping to secure a limited commercial release for the film, with an aim to have it rated 20-, in which viewers would have to be aged 20 or older and have their ID checked at the cinema.

In previous attempts to have the movie rated, Tanwarin said one of the censorship committee members was concerned about the negative impact of one scene, in which the son kills his transvestite dad.

"I just wanted to raise the issue of gay discrimination that exists in Thai society," Tanwarin said. "That scene was a dream sequence, not reality. And then the son wakes up and he feels guilty."

-- The Nation 2010-12-11

[asiawatcher]

No film, no matter its content, should be banned. No censorship is endorsed legally and the 'censorship' has not been passed into law unless this has happened underground some time in the past few years. I would love someone to post me the article in law and the act it falls under and when it was passed with the wording.

Thailand uses bullying to manifest its rules even when not endorsed by actual law. Filmmakers have a right to express themselves and that is what 'the arts' is all about. Gay, straight, heterosexual, drama, twisted, ghosts, extreme violence et al, you out a rating in and let the public decide if they wish to see the content. It is not up to some out of work prudish school teachers.

[TAWP]

I agree, and it is shameful that Thailand, including a lot of western nations and others past and present, still continue to ban movies they find 'unacceptable'.

[Para]

No film, no matter its content, should be banned. No censorship is endorsed legally and the 'censorship' has not been passed into law unless this has happened underground some time in the past few years. I would love someone to post me the article in law and the act it falls under and when it was passed with the wording.

Thailand uses bullying to manifest its rules even when not endorsed by actual law. Filmmakers have a right to express themselves and that is what 'the arts' is all about. Gay, straight, heterosexual, drama, twisted, ghosts, extreme violence et al, you out a rating in and let the public decide if they wish to see the content. It is not up to some out of work prudish school teachers.

I totally agree.

Nothing angers me more then the 'do gooders' who watch a TV program/movie just so they can complain at the content after. I personally draw the line at inciting terrorism but other than that let the people decide what they want to see.

Would I go and watch this movie, no its certainly not MY style but I wont complain at the content. If you dont like it turn it over.

I have a very deep love of Thai people but am constantly saddened by Thailand.

Peace.

[Jingthing]

Post withdrawn.

Edited December 11, 2010 by Jingthing

[Northman061]

Let us not forget, that the evil and nasty film, "The King and I" is still banned in Thailand!

[asiawatcher]

By the bye, the Film Board has nothing to do with censorship. That is a different department entirely. Another example of accurate (not) reporting.

[mogoso]

I don't think so much it's a slap at gays to have the film banned, but the masturbation scenes which would've drawn their ire.

Katoeys are part of the fabric of Thailand accepted on screen and stage.

[SweatiePie]

No film, no matter its content, should be banned. No censorship is endorsed legally and the 'censorship' has not been passed into law unless this has happened underground some time in the past few years. I would love someone to post me the article in law and the act it falls under and when it was passed with the wording.

Film censorship was passed into law in Thailand under the Thai Film Act of 1930, with censorship being the responsibility of the Royal Thai Police. This was highly controversial and was replaced by the equally controversial Film and Video Act of 2007, which introduced the ratings system and is controlled by the Ministry of Culture with a board including representatives from the police, schools, Buddhists and the medical profession.

You may not agree with it, but just because you are unaware of the law does not mean that it does not exist - ignorance is no defence.