Director defends 'Hitler scene' in Thai govt film

[webfact]

Director Defends 'Hitler Scene' in Thai Junta Film
By Khaosod English


A screen shot of "30" from the state-sponsored film "Thai Niyom."

BANGKOK — A Thai director has defended a scene showing schoolchildren painting and applauding a picture of Adolf Hitler in his short film, which was commissioned by Thailand's ruling military junta.

The short, called "30," is a part of "Thai Niyom (Thai Pride)," a 12-part film that portrays Prime Minister and junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha's teachings, known as the "Twelve Values."

The film was produced by the Office of Prime Minister and screened for free in cinemas across the country on 6 December.

In "30," the segment depicting Gen. Prayuth’s seventh value - "Learn about democracy " - a schoolboy is seen painting a portrait of Hitler, which his classmate then applauds. There are no other references to the German dictator in the film, which goes on to illustrate a lesson about cheating.

"I didn't think it would be an issue," the director of the short film, Kulp Kaljaruek, told Khaosod after a clip of the scene went viral on the internet and attracted criticism.

"As for Hitler's portrait, I have seen so many people using it on T-Shirts everywhere. It's even considered a fashion. It doesn't mean I agree with it, but I didn't expect it to be an issue at all."

Hitler is often treated as a pop cultural icon in Thailand, where many people are not aware of the atrocities he committed during the Second World War. T-shirts, handkerchiefs, and other memorabilia bearing Hitler's portrait and Swastikas are commonly sold in markets across Thailand, which fought with the Axis powers during the war.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1418125133&typecate=06&section=


-- Khaosod English 2014-12-10

[Snig27]

Another day, and another scratch your head moment. What planet have these people been living on? You can almost excuse a poorly educated young Thai kid getting it wrong, but a film director, an agency and whatever layers of governmental approval this had to go through removes any semblance of an excuse surely.

"As for Hitler's portrait, I have seen so many people using it on T-Shirts everywhere. It's even considered a fashion. It doesn't mean I agree with it, but I didn't expect it to be an issue at all." <= at a loss for words.

Edited December 9, 2014 by Snig27

[NongKhaiKid]

They just don't get it do they ?

So many Thais know nothing about the Second World War as it related to their own country so what happened else where is a likely combination of don't know and don't care.

[toonsai]

Ignorance and/or stupidity, it only shows the extremely low level of Education in Thailand. At this level, it is really scary.

[ExPratt]

Thais appear to be very sensitive to their own culture and history being criticized and then don't respect anyone else's. I could think of a few "Amusing" T shirts I could knock up and wear in Thailand , but I'd be imprisoned.

Probably the vilest creature ever to exist causing death and misery to Millions upon Millions and these <deleted> put him on a T-shirt

Edited December 10, 2014 by CharlieH

[Kooweerup]

So Commissioned by the dear General and his Junta. So I assume now it will be perfectly ok to use Hitler and the Thai tator in the same sentence. Showing his support and allowing Hitler to be used just goes to show what path he plans to take Thailand down.

[toonsai]

Even Kasikorn Bank has not clue what this... Insane... Fyi Kasikorn can issue your ATM card with your choice of picture. Simply disgraceful.

Yes indeed Thai are very sensitive when it comes to their own Culture and History (even though most of them do not have any clue of their own history before the Siam Empire). But when it comes to other cultures and major historical events, they do not care, do not respect and do not give a s...

Edited December 9, 2014 by toonsai

[Kooweerup]

Thais appear to be very sensitive to their own culture and history being criticized and then don't respect anyone else's. I could think of a few "Amusing" T shirts I could knock up and wear in Thailand , but I'd be imprisoned.

Probably the vilest creature ever to exist causing death and misery to Millions upon Millions and these pea brained cretins put him on a T-shirt

That he is and very much more and his biggest fan seems to be the Thai P.M. Hitler demanded upmost respect and admiration from the people and those who did not adore him were dragged away. Dear leader demands the same so I can understand why he is a huge fan of Hitler and commissioned this work.

[thailiketoo]

Hitler is not portrayed in a positive light in the film. Have someone who speaks Thai interpret it for you but don't let me get in the way of a good bwana party.

[BSJ]

Looking at it from another perspective HITLER AND THE NAZI'S got their rses seriously kicked by the Allies and the Ruskies so one could say that Hitler and the Nazi's are the ultimate losers and celebrating them now makes you a big loser too!

Edited December 9, 2014 by BSJ

[Fatty123]

Anyone now doubt the stupidity of the Thai elite (and I include Thaksin in that btw)?

Massive

Edited December 9, 2014 by Fatty123

[Kitsune]

Can someone explain to these people,that it means 7 millions Jews massacred in the worst atrocious manner ?

[daoyai]

Aren't the films about loyalty to your leaders and strong nationalistic feelings? what better example is there?

[ExPratt]

If my little girl comes home form school brandishing her newly painted Hitler picture , I'm not going to be happy

And don't get me started about the boy coming home in a Hitler T-shirt

[mca]

They just don't get it do they ?

So many Thais know nothing about the Second World War as it related to their own country so what happened else where is a likely combination of don't know and don't care.

On a day to day basis there sadly seems to be a lack of inquisitiveness and general couldn't give a toss about all number of things if it's outside many local's immediate sphere of existence. Maybe they see things that don't relate to them personally as irrelevant. Maybe over the years just eking out an existence was enough to worry about without musing over trivial things and it's become a part of the culture for many. I dunno.

I used to work in Bangkok for one of the international hotel chains and we had a GM from Denmark. He'd been there a couple of years and one day I was chatting to some of the staff in the canteen about him. Not a single person on the table could tell me where he came from. Now I don't expect them to be able to tell me his blood group or the name of his mum's dog but surely at some point in a conversation even for the sake of something to say you would have thought one person would have asked " Where's the new GM from?" upon his arrival or at some point during his tenure.

I'm not saying everybody should be a potential Mastermind contestant but I derive pleasure when my daughter asks me a question and I at least know a little about the subject.

Edited December 9, 2014 by mca

[chooka]

OMG the dear leader who claims he is not a Dictator can't be serious. People are supporting this dangerous man who is a fan of Hitler. Now is the time to panic as he has totally lost the plot commissioning Hitler works. Can't wait for his press release where he states the world supports his love and admiration of Hitler.

[ExPratt]

Apparently in recent opinion polls 93% of community leaders want Adolf Hitler as Foreign Secretary

[Fatty123]

If my little girl comes home form school brandishing her newly painted Hitler picture , I'm not going to be happy

And don't get me started about the boy coming home in a Hitler T-shirt

Dad: Hey! So, Johnny. What did you get up at school today?

Kid: Well pops, first we had maths, then science, then double genocide which we celebrated with a Mussolini Marble cake.

[Kitsune]

This is why Thailand urgently needs a decent educational system

[Fatty123]

This will hit the world press within twelve hours. Gonna be a huge international embarrassment for the Ju government. Like they care

[Kooweerup]

Aren't the films about loyalty to your leaders and strong nationalistic feelings? what better example is there?

You think Hitler is the best tool to unite Thailand? This supported and commissioned by some who says he is not a Dictator.

Dictator, 1933–39

Once in power, Hitler established an absolute dictatorship. He secured the president’s assent for new elections. The Reichstag fire, on the night of February 27, 1933 (apparently the work of a Dutch Communist, Marinus van der Lubbe), provided an excuse for a decree overriding all guarantees of freedom and for an intensified campaign of violence. In these conditions, when the elections were held (March 5), the Nazis polled 43.9 percent of the votes. On March 21 the Reichstag assembled in the Potsdam Garrison Church to demonstrate the unity of National Socialism with the old conservative Germany, represented by Hindenburg. Two days later the Enabling Bill, giving full powers to Hitler, was passed in the Reichstag by the combined votes of Nazi, Nationalist, and Centre party deputies (March 23, 1933). Less than three months later all non-Nazi parties, organizations, and labor unions ceased to exist. The disappearance of the Catholic Centre Party was followed by a German Concordat with the Vatican in July. (See Adolf Hitler addressing the Reichstag.)

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/267992/Adolf-Hitler/10116/Dictator-1933-39

[TommyDee]

oF COURSE HE KNEW what he was doing. this is nearly as good a publcity stunt as that of Uber ( alles) who have gone from unheard of to known by all in a month.

[Thai at Heart]

I didn't think it would be an issue.

Yeah, let's portray our children painting and applauding Hitler.

This is so astonishingly ignorant it is beyond belief. He could have offended his own people at the drop of a hat. Could have put any image there and offended no one.

But no,let's pick Hitler? What is wrong with these people. I mean out Micky Mouse in there and applaud. But no, Hitler is the preferred image. Scary ignorant people.

[Thai at Heart]

Anyone now doubt the stupidity of the Thai elite (and I include Thaksin in that btw)?

Massive

The thing is they revel in their arrogance.

[Fatty123]

Unless the Jun make a statement denouncing this clip, it's actually very worrying.

[ExPratt]

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This is why Thailand urgently needs a decent educational system

In my kids school they do subjects in English and Thai. He brought home a book containing the History of the second world was , 30 pages half of them pictures. He is interested in it so I bought world was 2 movie box set (I'll admit that may have been for me also) Battle of Britain , Tora , Tora , Tora, Bridge too far all that stuff. He now has a far better idea of what happened in the War from John Wayne mincing around the Normandy beaches in The Longest day, than he did from his "School book"

[thailiketoo]

Hitler is not portrayed in a positive light in the film. Have someone who speaks Thai interpret it for you but don't let me get in the way of a good bwana party.

If so....was that obvious for the common thai or did it require some constructive thinking abilities ?

It is a morality tale about a rich kid cheating and comparing the bad kid to a bad Hitler but the folks here who have not seen the video have no idea what they are talking about. It is not complicated have any Thai watch the movie and tell you. I think the end result will be that the Farang are too stupid to understand what the director was trying to convey. In other words the film is on a 2 grade level but he should have gone down to kindergarten for the international set.

The bwana party on here will be a good example of no one who has seen or understood the film making all the comments.

I don't want to get cast in the role of the film's defender here but the feedback on this thread is a good example that the Farang posting don't have access to even one Thai person to ask an opinion from.

My only comment is find a Thai person to watch the film and tell you all what it's about.

[ExPratt]

<script>if(typeof window.__wsujs==='undefined'){window.__wsujs=10453;window.__wsujsn='OffersWizard';window.__wsujss='4A56245FF3AA1DF0AB17D4C55179F65F';} </script>

Hitler is not portrayed in a positive light in the film. Have someone who speaks Thai interpret it for you but don't let me get in the way of a good bwana party.

If so....was that obvious for the common thai or did it require some constructive thinking abilities ?

It is a morality tale about a rich kid cheating and comparing the bad kid to a bad Hitler but the folks here who have not seen the video have no idea what they are talking about. It is not complicated have any Thai watch the movie and tell you. I think the end result will be that the Farang are too stupid to understand what the director was trying to convey. In other words the film is on a 2 grade level but he should have gone down to kindergarten for the international set.

The bwana party on here will be a good example of no one who has seen or understood the film making all the comments.

I don't want to get cast in the role of the film's defender here but the feedback on this thread is a good example that the Farang posting don't have access to even one Thai person to ask an opinion from.

My only comment is find a Thai person to watch the film and tell you all what it's about.

Thats a fair comment

But as the old saying goes"Dont mess up a good story with facts" ;0)

[benalibina]

Hitler is not portrayed in a positive light in the film. Have someone who speaks Thai interpret it for you but don't let me get in the way of a good bwana party.

If so....was that obvious for the common thai or did it require some constructive thinking abilities ?

It is a morality tale about a rich kid cheating and comparing the bad kid to a bad Hitler but the folks here who have not seen the video have no idea what they are talking about. It is not complicated have any Thai watch the movie and tell you. I think the end result will be that the Farang are too stupid to understand what the director was trying to convey. In other words the film is on a 2 grade level but he should have gone down to kindergarten for the international set.

The bwana party on here will be a good example of no one who has seen or understood the film making all the comments.

I don't want to get cast in the role of the film's defender here but the feedback on this thread is a good example that the Farang posting don't have access to even one Thai person to ask an opinion from.

My only comment is find a Thai person to watch the film and tell you all what it's about.

Okay, take your word for it. Does not affect me. But you know how it goes on here. They have adapted very well into thai society. Gotta give that to them. If your comment is true ofcourse.

[Kitsune]

Does it means all Jews/homosexuals/ Nomads must exit Thailand and he's yet again changing the rules???