Thai movie ban: 'Boundary' screening allowed under conditions

[webfact]

MOVIE BAN
'Boundary' screening allowed under conditions
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- After hesitation on the part of the theatre operator, the controversial documentary "Boundary" ("Fahtum Pandinsoong") had its Thailand premiere as planned last night.

The film will have a limited commercial run in Major Cineplex Group theatres under an unusual arrangement that has the filmmaker taking care of ticket sales himself.

"There was a misunderstanding about the press screening at Esplanade Cineplex. Bioscope magazine [as a distributor] and myself rent the theatre for screening. The cinema operator itself has no responsibility," director Nontawat Numbenchapol explained.

Covering the Thai-Cambodian border dispute and Thailand's red-and-yellow political divide, "Boundary" will begin a nationwide tour on Thursday, opening at the Major Cineplex in Chiang Mai. Other cities are Khon Kaen from July 4 to 10, Udon Thani from July 11 to 17 and then back in Bangkok at the Esplanade Cineplex Ratchada from July 18 onwards.

"The nationwide screenings will continue as planned," Nontawat said. Tickets can be purchased at the door and bookings can be made through www.facebook/boundarymovie.

After word spread on Facebook of the possible cancellation of the "Boundary" premiere there were also worries in the film community that another politically sensitive film, "Pachatipathai" ("Paradoxocracy") by directors Pen-ek Ratanaruang and Pasakorn Pramoolwong, might also be cancelled. But "Pachatipathai", which opened yesterday in observance of the 81st anniversary of the establishment of the constitutional monarchy, went on as planned at Esplanade Ratchada and Paragon Cineplex. Full houses were reported for the screenings.

Confusion has surrounded "Boundary" since Nontawat submitted it to the Film and Video Board. It was initially banned on April 23 but the ban order was rescinded two days later. The board said it had made a "technical mistake" and it would allow "Boundary" to be shown with a minor change - to remove an announcement at the 2011 Ratchprasong New Year's celebration asking people to "count down to celebrate His Majesty the King's 84th birthday". The censors had expressed concerns that the announcement might "lead to misinterpretation".

"Boundary" had its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival. It had a soft premiere in Thailand in April at the Salaya International Documentary Film Festival.


-- The Nation 2013-06-25

[Sayonarax]

Banning it only attracts more attention..

[bigbamboo]

Is the pirate DVD available in Bangkok yet?

Edited June 25, 2013 by bigbamboo

[BrianCR]

Banning it only attracts more attention..

Ever thought that might be the marketing plan?