Ban on controversial Buddhist monk movie lifted after film re-edited

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Ban lifted after film re-edited

BANGKOK:-- THE FILM Board has approved the screening of the controversial horror movie "Arbat" after its name was changed to "Apatti" and some of its controversial scenes cut. The movie started screening last night with an 18+ rating.

After the Film Board banned the movie on Monday, its producer, Prachya Pinkaew, and its director, Kanittha Kwunyoo, re-edited the movie to remove the controversial scenes - taking about three minutes off its length.

Prachya and Kanittha said the re-editing did not affect the movie's structure and the points it wanted to present to the public.

Prachya said the movie was a little bit toned down.

The removed scenes included a novice monk kissing a woman and novices lifting a Buddha image at the head. "I felt relieved that I could save the main theme of the movie," said the rookie director.

Kanittha said she always knew the movie was likely to cause controversy.

Arbat, or apatti, is the word used when a monk breaks Buddhist precepts or rules. Such offences are committed by actions or words, although the intent is almost always the decisive factor.

For this film, the title refers to monks who have broken rules and try to sweep their offences under the carpet, only to have karma catch up with them.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Ban-lifted-after-film-re-edited-30271083.html

-- The Nation 2015-10-17

[Somtamnication]

Not worth it then, innit?

[BSJ]

It probably matters more to Buddhists than it does me! Does it have English language sub-titles?

[ezzra]

Thai censorship at work, you get in, sit down, watch endless commercials and ads, get up for the

national anthem, the movie start, few scenes, greased here, pixelated there, and after a while the

movie end and you wonder if it was worth it....

[halloween]

With the main "horror' scenes cut out, I don't think Chucky of Freddy have anything to worry about.

[trainman34014]

So; now it's half a movie will it be half price to get in ?

[LannaGuy]

Big brother strikes again

[arrowsdawdle]

So; now it's half a movie will it be half price to get in ?

Excellent observation.

Perhaps these film industry stakeholders would be interested in Thai censorship posts:

• Sundance Film Festival
• Cannes
• Twitter Index on Censorship
• Facebook Movie Censorship

[Bluespunk]

Such quick editing that doesn't affect the movie after a huge amount of useful free publicity.

How convenient.

[Srikcir]

"The movie has some scenes that will destroy Buddhism. If it is shown, people's faith in Buddhism will deteriorate" - Surachatri, spokesman for Thailand's National Office of Buddhism.

The people's faith in Buddhism face challenges every day. An honest movie might actually give them more strength to endure such challenges.

Monk Buddha Issara accepting Bt120,000 cash compensation for a cancelled hotel booking (2014-02-21):

Monk Buddha Issara collecting donations for PDRC: