Oscar-nominated 'The Rocket' opens 11th World Film Festival
The Nation

Kim Mordaunt, left

BANGKOK: -- Award-winning director Kim Mordaunt's Oscar-nominated "Bang Fai" ("The Rocket") was the first film to be showcased as the 11th World Film Festival of Bangkok was officially launched last night at SF CentralWorld.

The Australian-Lao-Isaan film is a heart-warming tale of a boy who goes on a journey to find his family a new home after they are evicted to make way for a dam. Starring young Sitthiphon Disamoe, the film also includes veteran Thai comedian Thep Po-ngam as a James Brown-obsessed "uncle".

"Bang Fai", which is banned in Laos, has already won the Crystal Bear and two other awards at this year's Berlin film festival and is Australia's submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the next Academy Awards.

In a chat with festival director Kriengsak "Victor" Silakong, Mordaunt said: "It is important for 'The Rocket' to premiere in Thailand since the cast and crew are mostly Thai."

He went on to say that he had a great time working with "the best film crew ever" despite some cultural differences. "But then, it is expected when you have multicultural people in a film set," he said.

The Bangkok fest, which was opened by Culture Minister Sonthaya Kunplome, also pays tribute to 1980s superstar Jarunee Suksawat, who will be honoured with the "Lotus Award" to mark her achievements.

In an era when about 120 films were made in Thailand every year, Jarunee appeared in at least 100 of them, Victor said.

The fest wraps on November 24 with the documentary "Mae Nam Tid Shua" ("By the River"). The film, created by Nontawat Numbenchapol, documents the problems villagers have suffered from lead-contamination in Klity Creek in Kanchanaburi.

The disaster spawned a legal case that dragged on in Thai courts for 15 years. "Mae Nam Tid Shua" has already won a special-mention prize at the Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland.

The 11th World Film Festival of Bangkok is organised by the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture and the Culture Ministry in collaboration with Nation Broadcasting Corporation, The Nation and SF Corporation. This year it features more than 60 offerings from 25 countries.

More details can be found at www.WorldFilmBKK.com.


-- The Nation 2013-11-16

It is an Australian Movie made in Laos funded by the Australian Film commission (tax payer) It has already previewed in Australia. The filming was heavily monitored by the Laos government and some scenes weren't allowed to be filmed and the Laos Government even wanted the script changed. To get around this the Australians crossed over into Thailand to shoot these scenes. The film is now banned in Laos.

http://www.therocket-movie.com/#!trailer/c24vq

How can it be "Oscar nominated" when the nominations won't be announced until January 16, 2014?

How can it be "Oscar nominated" when the nominations won't be announced until January 16, 2014?

Maybe they mean "Australia's submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the next Academy Awards. They may be confused and think submitting is the same as nominating.

It is an Australian Movie made in Laos funded by the Australian Film commission (tax payer) It has already previewed in Australia. The filming was heavily monitored by the Laos government and some scenes weren't allowed to be filmed and the Laos Government even wanted the script changed. To get around this the Australians crossed over into Thailand to shoot these scenes. The film is now banned in Laos.

http://www.therocket-movie.com/#!trailer/c24vq

A friend who lives in Laos (an experienced American filmmaker, who regularly donates his time and knowledge to help build an indigenous film industry in Laos, controlled by LAO people), tells a very different story.

He said the movie was banned because the crew snuck in and filmed in Laos without permission, and used only foreign labor (Thais), hiring no locals.

How would Thailand--or Australia, for that matter--respond to foreign nationals surreptitiously filming a movie in the country, subverting local unions and using only foreign labor, and not getting any of the required permits, paying the required taxes, etc.?

I bet any money his family love him now and have welcomed him back open arms.

Sitthiphon ''Ki'' Disamoe, a street kid who would end up playing the lead role. ''He'd been deserted by his family, and had two years on the streets in Bangkok,'' he says.

Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/entertainment/movies/set-fire-to-the-rain-20130815-2rzf3.html#ixzz2kmO2QbzD

It is an Australian Movie made in Laos funded by the Australian Film commission (tax payer) It has already previewed in Australia. The filming was heavily monitored by the Laos government and some scenes weren't allowed to be filmed and the Laos Government even wanted the script changed. To get around this the Australians crossed over into Thailand to shoot these scenes. The film is now banned in Laos.

http://www.therocket-movie.com/#!trailer/c24vq

A friend who lives in Laos (an experienced American filmmaker, who regularly donates his time and knowledge to help build an indigenous film industry in Laos, controlled by LAO people), tells a very different story.

He said the movie was banned because the crew snuck in and filmed in Laos without permission, and used only foreign labor (Thais), hiring no locals.

How would Thailand--or Australia, for that matter--respond to foreign nationals surreptitiously filming a movie in the country, subverting local unions and using only foreign labor, and not getting any of the required permits, paying the required taxes, etc.?

All the media reports I have read have a totally different story to your friend. The lao government even had supervisors on set. There are a number of news reports out there and none mention what your friend says.

https://www.google.com/search?q=++the+rocket+banned+in+laos&rls=com.microsoft:en-AU:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7SKPT_enTH406

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/exclusive-oscar-hope-the-rocket-gets-banned-in-laos-20131114-2xib0.html

It is an Australian Movie made in Laos funded by the Australian Film commission (tax payer) It has already previewed in Australia. The filming was heavily monitored by the Laos government and some scenes weren't allowed to be filmed and the Laos Government even wanted the script changed. To get around this the Australians crossed over into Thailand to shoot these scenes. The film is now banned in Laos.

http://www.therocket-movie.com/#!trailer/c24vq

A friend who lives in Laos (an experienced American filmmaker, who regularly donates his time and knowledge to help build an indigenous film industry in Laos, controlled by LAO people), tells a very different story.

He said the movie was banned because the crew snuck in and filmed in Laos without permission, and used only foreign labor (Thais), hiring no locals.

How would Thailand--or Australia, for that matter--respond to foreign nationals surreptitiously filming a movie in the country, subverting local unions and using only foreign labor, and not getting any of the required permits, paying the required taxes, etc.?

All the media reports I have read have a totally different story to your friend. The lao government even had supervisors on set. There are a number of news reports out there and none mention what your friend says.

https://www.google.com/search?q=++the+rocket+banned+in+laos&rls=com.microsoft:en-AU:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7SKPT_enTH406

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/exclusive-oscar-hope-the-rocket-gets-banned-in-laos-20131114-2xib0.html

and it is a good movie....sad where his Mum passes away after being crushed by the boat. Well worth watching....feel good movie

A friend who lives in Laos (an experienced American filmmaker, who regularly donates his time and knowledge to help build an indigenous film industry in Laos, controlled by LAO people), tells a very different story.

He said the movie was banned because the crew snuck in and filmed in Laos without permission, and used only foreign labor (Thais), hiring no locals.

How would Thailand--or Australia, for that matter--respond to foreign nationals surreptitiously filming a movie in the country, subverting local unions and using only foreign labor, and not getting any of the required permits, paying the required taxes, etc.?

The production company told me they had all papers, permissions, hired Thai and Lao staff, had government officials on the scene. You can't shoot a movie that size secretly in Laos. Maybe someone don't get hired/sub-contracted?

It is an Australian Movie made in Laos funded by the Australian Film commission (tax payer) It has already previewed in Australia. The filming was heavily monitored by the Laos government and some scenes weren't allowed to be filmed and the Laos Government even wanted the script changed. To get around this the Australians crossed over into Thailand to shoot these scenes. The film is now banned in Laos.

http://www.therocket-movie.com/#!trailer/c24vq

A friend who lives in Laos (an experienced American filmmaker, who regularly donates his time and knowledge to help build an indigenous film industry in Laos, controlled by LAO people), tells a very different story.

He said the movie was banned because the crew snuck in and filmed in Laos without permission, and used only foreign labor (Thais), hiring no locals.

How would Thailand--or Australia, for that matter--respond to foreign nationals surreptitiously filming a movie in the country, subverting local unions and using only foreign labor, and not getting any of the required permits, paying the required taxes, etc.?

All the media reports I have read have a totally different story to your friend. The lao government even had supervisors on set. There are a number of news reports out there and none mention what your friend says.

https://www.google.com/search?q=++the+rocket+banned+in+laos&rls=com.microsoft:en-AU:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7SKPT_enTH406

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/exclusive-oscar-hope-the-rocket-gets-banned-in-laos-20131114-2xib0.html

and it is a good movie....sad where his Mum passes away after being crushed by the boat. Well worth watching....feel good movie

Guess it's too late for a <spoiler alert>.

It is an Australian Movie made in Laos funded by the Australian Film commission (tax payer) It has already previewed in Australia. The filming was heavily monitored by the Laos government and some scenes weren't allowed to be filmed and the Laos Government even wanted the script changed. To get around this the Australians crossed over into Thailand to shoot these scenes. The film is now banned in Laos.

http://www.therocket-movie.com/#!trailer/c24vq

A friend who lives in Laos (an experienced American filmmaker, who regularly donates his time and knowledge to help build an indigenous film industry in Laos, controlled by LAO people), tells a very different story.

He said the movie was banned because the crew snuck in and filmed in Laos without permission, and used only foreign labor (Thais), hiring no locals.

How would Thailand--or Australia, for that matter--respond to foreign nationals surreptitiously filming a movie in the country, subverting local unions and using only foreign labor, and not getting any of the required permits, paying the required taxes, etc.?

All the media reports I have read have a totally different story to your friend. The lao government even had supervisors on set. There are a number of news reports out there and none mention what your friend says.

https://www.google.com/search?q=++the+rocket+banned+in+laos&rls=com.microsoft:en-AU:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7SKPT_enTH406

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/exclusive-oscar-hope-the-rocket-gets-banned-in-laos-20131114-2xib0.html

and it is a good movie....sad where his Mum passes away after being crushed by the boat. Well worth watching....feel good movie

I love where the lead actor was plucked off the streets of Bangkok. His mum in the movie, an aussie actress is quite hot also.

From Australian submitted to Oscar nominated. You have to create a BUZZ somehow. Just like the movie Argo.

Never let the truth stand in the way of a good story.

How can it be "Oscar nominated" when the nominations won't be announced until January 16, 2014?

Maybe they mean "Australia's submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the next Academy Awards. They may be confused and think submitting is the same as nominating.

Or it may have nothing at all to do with confusion, but it is the superiority attitude that raises it's ugly head once again.