Thai Film No Joke In Laos

[george]

Thai film no joke in Laos

Officials in Laos yesterday warned that the Thai film "Mak Te" ("Football") could jeopardise diplomatic ties.

The Lao foreign ministry summoned minister Udomsak Sritangos, No-2 at the Thai Embassy in Vientiane, to raise concerns over a film they said humiliates Laotians, an official said. Vientiane hopes the film's producer will halt screening of the movie before it is released on Thursday.

"We don't want to see a tragedy like what happened in Phnom Penh when Cambodians were angry over [comments allegedly made by] a Thai movie star," he said, referring to the 2003 riots.

"Mak Te" is a comedy about the Thai and Lao football teams, in which the Lao team makes it to the World Cup. Lao authorities say the movie mocks Laos and puts the team's success down to its Thai coach. Several of the Lao players dye their hair to look like Western football stars and the team practices in a freezer container to get used to cold weather.

--The Nation 2006-05-13

[Totster]

and the team practices in a freezer container to get used to cold weather.

Thats initiative that is...

totster

[sriracha john]

Saw the trailer yesterday at the cinema, before watching MI-III, and the whole time thought of the recent troubles caused by the other Thai movie, "Ghost", that outraged Cambodians. I was thinking "Laos is not going to be happy with this," and BAM!... comes this totally unsurprising report today.

It seems like it's just a matter of time before insensitive movies on Burma and Malaysia are produced that provoke similar outcries so that Thailand can successfully piss off ALL it's neighbors...

[Dragonman]

Thai film no joke in Laos

Officials in Laos yesterday warned that the Thai film "Mak Te" ("Football") could jeopardise diplomatic ties.

The Lao foreign ministry summoned minister Udomsak Sritangos, No-2 at the Thai Embassy in Vientiane, to raise concerns over a film they said humiliates Laotians, an official said. Vientiane hopes the film's producer will halt screening of the movie before it is released on Thursday.

"We don't want to see a tragedy like what happened in Phnom Penh when Cambodians were angry over [comments allegedly made by] a Thai movie star," he said, referring to the 2003 riots.

"Mak Te" is a comedy about the Thai and Lao football teams, in which the Lao team makes it to the World Cup. Lao authorities say the movie mocks Laos and puts the team's success down to its Thai coach. Several of the Lao players dye their hair to look like Western football stars and the team practices in a freezer container to get used to cold weather.

--The Nation 2006-05-13

Having seen Laos play, if it wasn't for the bit about qualifying for the World Cup finals (only 1 point in 8 qualifying matches), it sounds like a documentary.

You'd think they'd need a sense of humour.

[The Coder]

This movie will be screened and it will be wildly popular. Thai's can't wait to see it and money will win, not a grumpy official. Thai's aren't lined up to see it because it is demeaning, but because it is one of those extremely silly films that make Thai's laugh. I would not be surprised if it is a hit in Laos as well. Don't know if they ban films there like in Thailand but even so surely it will be on every CD rack hung out in the street one way or the other.

Laos playing the diplomatic relations card, LOL. Some people just need to feel important and that their job is meaningful. The whole thing will blow over and relations will be same same regardless if they wag their finger at it or not.

[Maejo Man]

Thai film no joke in Laos

Officials in Laos yesterday warned that the Thai film "Mak Te" ("Football") could jeopardise diplomatic ties.

We have Thailand in a tizz over a pair of sneakers. We had Cambodia up in arms over another movie and a silly statement made by a Thai actress, and now we have Laos all upset over yet another movie. What is it that upsets Asian nations so much? Havn't they got more important matters to attend to? Obviously not

[lanny]

I've never looked but I don't think there are movie theaters in Laos. A friend who lives in Vientiane said something to me about his teenaged son not having things to do in Vientiane - and specifically mentioned thearters.

[Dragonman]

I've never looked but I don't think there are movie theaters in Laos. A friend who lives in Vientiane said something to me about his teenaged son not having things to do in Vientiane - and specifically mentioned thearters.

I know there is one, maybe two cinemas in Vientiane. Cinemas come and go, mostly go. However I doubt many teenagers would wish to see the highly censored (cowboy movies banned ) movies on offer. There are no other movie theatres in the Country as far as I am aware.

[Scott]

Unless it was produced or financed by the gov't, why is the gov't getting involved? Shouldn't it be the a producers called into answer about the film?

[astral]

Sounds like a storm in a world cup to me.

[george]

Update:

Lao officials and film producer to find way to end conflicts over Mak Te

Thai film producers and Lao officials will Monday begin to explore ways to end a conflict over the comedy movie of Mak Te (football) which Vientiane deemed improper as it made joke on Lao people and its national football team.

The Lao foreign ministry summoned minister Udomsak Sritangos, No-2 at the Thai Embassy in Vientiane, to raise concerns on Friday over a film they said humiliates Laotians. The Lao authority wanted the Thai producer to halt screening, which due Thursday, an official said.

The Thai producer GMM Tai Hub Co. has sent a copy of the movie via embassy in Bangkok to Vientiane to examine if any scenes could possibly angry Lao people. The producer is willing to modify the film if Lao authorities could prove it would seriously damage felling of Lao people and spark hate sentiment between the neighbours, a company official said.

"Mak Te" is a comedy about the Thai and Lao football teams, in which the Lao team makes it to the World Cup. Lao authorities say the movie mocks Laos and puts the team's success down to its Thai coach.

Several of the Lao players dye their hair to look like Western football stars and the team practices in a freezer container to get used to cold weather.

These scenes might disappoint Lao people as the movie make joke on the national football team of the Thai neighbour, according to a Lao official who has seen the movie in a preview event last week.

--The Nation 2006-05-15

[george]

Lao 'thumbs down' for Thai's comedy

BANGKOK/VIENTIANE: -- A Thai-produced comedy film about an imaginary Lao football team has elicited no smiles from the Lao Embassy in Thailand, and consequently, the Royal Thai Police and Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs..

After viewing the film "Mak Te" (football), Lao ambassador to Bangkok Hiem Phommachanh gave it a 'thumbs down' rating and said it will cause significant problems between the normally-friendly neighbouring countries if the movie is screened in cinemas.

The film debut is expected to be postponed. The embassy wants the film withdrawn until the script is changed and all references to Laos are deleted.

GMM Tai Hub Co. executive board chairman Visut Poonwaralak and film director Chira Malikul met Monday with Ambassador Hiem to ask his advice regarding reports that the film may cause dissatisfaction among Lao viewers.

The ambassador said that although he understood that the film was intended to be a comedy, nonetheless its content should not relate to Laos, at all. The film's producers should change it to remove any reference to Thailand's neighbour.

"Mak Te" was intended as a comedy about a Lao football team at the World Cup finals. Several Lao footballers reportedly dye their hair imitating European football players and do other actions which Lao viewers might find objectionable.

Caretaker Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office Suranand Vejjajiva met with the Mak Te producers, with senior officials from the Royal Thai Police and with the Foreign Ministry today after the Lao government called for the Thai side to scrap the plan to launch the controversial movie on May 18 as it makes fun of Laos.

After the meeting, Mr. Suranand said that the film producers told him that they didn't mean to insult the Lao people but to entertain moviegoers.

However, they said if the film causes any offence, the producers are willing to clear up any misunderstanding with the Lao ambassador and modify the film as instructed by Vientiane.

Mr. Suranand said he would ask the Thai Embassy in Vientiane to monitor reaction from the Lao government. The Thai government, he said, is ready to right the wrong as it does not want bilateral relations to sour.

The Royal Thai Police said it can revoke the film's license if it affects relations between the two countries.

--TNA/Bangkok Post 2006-05-15

[sriracha john]

The protests got their way, the movie release has been stopped. Will the related thread:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=69258&hl=

end up with similar results??

Producers agree to postpone movie's release indefinitely following protest

GTH, a filmmaking subsidiary of GMM Entertainment, yesterday announced that the release of the film "Mak Tae" (Lucky Loser) had been postponed until further notice due to concerns raised by the Lao Embassy and Thailand's Foreign Ministry that the film may harm relations between the two countries.

"Mak Tae", originally scheduled for its premiere on Thursday, is a comedy about football in which the Thai and Lao national teams meet in a qualifier to decide who goes to the World Cup.

Visute Poolworalaks, CEO of GTH, said yesterday that the company listened to all parties concerned and decided to put off the film's screening date.

"The best way to deal with the current situation is to halt the release of the film", he said.

However, Visute said the company might still consider releasing the film in the future.

He said the film, which had a budget of more than Bt60 million, had already been cut to avoid the possibility of offending people.

"We've already removed many scenes that might possibly be too sensitive to the relationship between the two countries," he said.

"GTH always thought that whoever saw the film, whether Thai or Laotian, would like it. So this is very unexpected," he said.

The film's director, Adisorn Tresirikasem, described it as an entertaining story about the football dreams of Asians. But if it did not serve that purpose, he supported the company's decision not to release it, Adisorn said.

"But I still believe in the film and would love people to see it so they will get answers to any doubts they may have," he said.

Jira Maligool, a producer at GTH, said those involved in the project had good intentions. The films GTH makes are carefully thought out to please all audiences, and are produced with good intentions, Jira said.

"I was very happy over the past two years with this film project. I hoped that it would be popular among audiences in Southeast Asia," he said.

Jira said that originally the film was three hours long, but the production team decided to cut many scenes they thought might be sensitive in terms of relations with Laos. The final cut is less than two hours long, he said.

After the press preview last week, the Lao Embassy expressed concern over the film and GTH sent a copy to the embassy for viewing.

They then arranged a meeting in which the Lao ambassador made a few suggestions about the film.

Jira said the Lao officials liked many parts of the film but found some parts inappropriate.

"I want to say that the ultimate message of the film is all about the dreams we share, especially about football," he said."All Asian people have a dream and we still pursue our dream despite our difficulties."

Although the filmmakers had good intentions, people tended to be influenced by what they heard in the media, Jira said.

- TN

[dave111223]

the team practices in a freezer container to get used to cold weather.

What is this Cool Runnings all over again...

[Jai Dee]

Film makers urged to be more careful

Foreign Affairs Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon (กันตธีร์ ศุภมงคล) has urged the filmmakers to consider the appropriateness of producing a film which could affect the people's feelings.

Following the remark of the Laotian Ambassador to Thailand that Thai-produced comedy film "Mak Te" could strain the relations between the two neighboring countries; Dr. Kantathi indicated that he is worried about the consequences if the movie is screened in theaters. He has urged film producers to consider the feelings of viewers as well.

In the very near future, concern agencies related to entertainment industry will be invited to a meeting as to discuss various aspects for producing films which will be accepted by all countries.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 16 May 2006

[Jai Dee]

Deputy Supreme Commander: Postponing the debut of "Mak Te"

The Deputy Supreme Commander, Police General Anuphan Sanitwong Na Ayutthaya (อนุพันธ์ สนิทวงศ์ ณ อยุธยา), stated that postponing the debut of Thai-produced comedy film “Mak Te" is a good solution to prevent the relationships between Thailand and Laos to be undermined.

Police General Anuphan referred to the request of Laos to withdraw the film as it could affect the relations of both neighboring counties. He said finding solutions to any actions that could cause the bilateral relations to be sour is deemed good since two countries are close neighbors.

He has urged concerned parties to be more careful. He added that registration division of Royal Thai Police has investigated the matter and has always been prudent over the issue.

He commented that the decision of the film producers to postpone the debut of the film is a right decision.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 16 May 2006