Thailand is embroiled in a long period of social and political unrest. In their 2018 ’World Report’, Human Rights Watch summarizes the situation like this: ’Media outlets face intimidation, punishment, and closure if they publicize commentaries critical of the junta and the monarchy or raise issues the NCPO considers to be sensitive to national security—including the repression of basic rights.’ In addition to a lack of freedom of speech, excessive use of military force is common, as are extrajudicial arrests and detainment without charges, kidnappings, and politically motivated violence.
With this as our backdrop, we are presenting four thought-provoking short films by Thai artists; films which in different ways give us perspectives on the situation in the country and how one might process conflict and trauma through art. All four films are documentaries from the past five years which give unique insights into contemporary Thailand through thematizations of violence, oppression of speech, and border conflicts – but also through their approach to film as art and the way they challenge our expectations of documentary film as a mode of expression.
Thailand Now (Total: 79 min.) Lør | Sat 17:00 [Nova 2] Ons | Wed 19:00 [Cinemateket]
THA 2015| Doc.Exp. | 10 min.
Director: Prapat Jiwarangsan
THE ASYLUM
Et vann blir til et trygt oppholdssted for en flyktning
fra Myanmar og en radio-DJ som mistet jobben sin da
alle myndighetskritiske radiostasjoner ble stengt etter
statskuppet i 2014.
A pond becomes a sanctuary from the struggles of life for a
refugee boy from Myanmar and a radio DJ who lost her job
when all the Red Shirt radio stations were shut down after the
2014 coup d’etat.
THA 2016 | Doc. | 20 min.
Directors: Thunska Pansittivorakul
SCREAMING GOATS
«Den sørlige grensen i Thailand er farlig og du burde ikke
bo der på grunn av all volden». Slik presenteres ofte denne
delen av Thailand i media. Men hvordan er det egentlig å
bo ved den sørlige grensen? I denne dokumentaren får du
et nytt perspektiv på området gjennom et par bestående
av to kvinner.
’The southern border of Thailand is dangerous, scary, you
shouldn’t live there, it’s full of violence.’ That is how it’s mostly
presented in the media. But what is the Southern border
really like? This documentary will give you another perspective
through the eyes of a female-female couple.
THA 2018 | Doc.Exp. | 28 min.
Director: Tulapop Saenjaroen
A ROOM WITH A COCONUT VIEW
En automatisert datastemme ved navn Kanya tar imot og
guider turisten Alex på en thailandsk resort i Bangsaen.
Siden Kanyas presentasjon av stedet er overdrevent
estetisert og har svært strenge rammer bestemmer Alex
seg for å utforske byen selv, og han fantaserer om å komme
seg ut fra bilderammen.
An automatic and computerised voice, Kanya, receives and guides a tourist, Alex, in a Thailand resort in Bangsaen. Since Kanya’s presentation is overtly aestheticized and strictly regimented, Alex decides to explore the town by himself, fantasizing about getting out of the frame.
THA 2013 | Doc. | 20 min.
Director: Jakrawal Nilthamrong
ZERO GRAVITY
Om grenselandet mellom Thailand og Burma, men også
om grenselandet mellom fiksjon og sannhet, nåtid og
fortid. «Gravity» refererer her til hva som oppstår i
kjølvannet av voldelige hendelser. Filmen er satt til
Ratchaburi, ikke langt fra Bangkok, og vi følger en manns
reise gjennom historien til regionen.
About the borderland between Thailand and Burma, as well
as the borderland between fiction and truth, past and present. Here 'gravity' refers to the aftermath of violent events. Set in
Ratchaburi, not far from Bangkok, the film follows a man on a
journey into the history of the region.
