BLANKET (2008, Tossapol Boonsinsukh, second viewing, A+++++)

This short film is a part of the feature film UNDER THE BLANKET. It contains one long static shot of a girl trying to draw two lines on a paper, then she erases them, and trying to draw them and erasing them again and again. This long static shot lasts almost 9 minutes, and we never see the face of the girl in this shot. We only see her from the neck down.





The scene in BLANKET (2008, Tossapol Boonsinsukh, A+++++) in the picture below seems to correspond to an empty parking lot scene in NICE TO MEET YOU (2005, Tossapol Boonsinsukh). In this scene in BLANKET, we hear a voiceover of a man, saying, "Monday. Begining on Monday. Tuesday, Wednesday. Thursday. Friday. Saturday. Sunday. Then returning to Monday."

NICE TO MEET YOU (2005, Tossapol Boonsinsukh, 25:28 min, second viewing, A+++++++++++++++)

There are many long static takes in this film, including the scene in the last picture, which lasts 5:50 min. We watch and listen to the protagonist's guitar-playing. His song is about a promise to remember. It's one of very few long static takes in Thai cinema at that time.

However, my most favorite scenes in the film are two scenes of extreme long shot. In the first one, which lasts about two and a half minutes, we see the protagonist (Patavee Viranuvat) sits in the middle of an empty parking lot, reading some incomprehensible things. To watch a character from afar reading some incomprehensible things for two and a half minutes is not something easily found in Thai cinema. The second scene that I like very much is the scene in which the protagonist plays with his female friend in the parking lot. They play rock-paper-scissors game. The loser must jump and clap his hands in the air. This scene is extremely cute and memorable, partly because it is in extreme long shot.

FROM THIS MOMENT ON -- Conyuck

The images in this music video comes from the film SPIDER (2011, Tossapol Boonsinsukh, A+++++++++++++++).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mNM_16bX6k

THIRDWORLD (1997, Apichatpong Weerasethakul)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q-umm6nbLs

I just knew that this film inspired Panu Aree to make ONCE UPON A TIME (2000).

Other interesting films in Youtube:

O.B.L. (2011, Panu Aree + Kong Rithdee + Kaweenipon Ketprasit, documentary, A+)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnU4Op84_Mc

DAD'S PICTURE (2010, Uruphong Raksasad + Naowares Chaonampad + Kriengsak Wittayaaniwart, A+/A)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qreeQxYBRB0

ARAYA RASDJARMREARNSOOK DEALING WITH DOGS WHILE TRYING TO PRESENT THE DEPARTMENT OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTS

You can watch the video here (in Thai with no subtitles)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSE3jcc4vfg

Thanks to Graiwoot for telling us about this.

FAR WEST (2012, Jimmy Hendrickx, A+)

For those who like the landscapes in cowboy films
http://vimeo.com/33373019

THE SHADOW BOX เงามัจจุราช (2012, Damkerng Thitapiyasak, A+++++++++++++++)

There are many things I like in this play, including:

1. The ending of the play, which seems to tell us that, "Whenever you are happy, don't forget you are going to die in the future." This kind of ending corresponds to my philosophy on life. It also reminds me of the ending of the film 5x2 (François Ozon), which seems to tell us that, "Whenever you are falling in love, don't forget it can end badly."

2.I like the stage decoration in this play very much. There are only two main props on the stage: a white chair with seems to hide a black chair in it, and a strange two-part wall which can be moved around in numerous ways. I like the moving around of this strange wall very much.

3.I like the character played by Peerapol Kijruenpiromsuk the most. This character is a money boy with a heart. There are three stories in this play. The story about this money boy somehow reminds of the films of Rainer Werner Fassbinder.

4.The story about a dying father, a mother (Sumontha Suanpolrat), and a son/daughter in this play is theoretically the least interesting in my point of view, but the play somehow makes this dull story very watchable, thanks to the great performance of the ever-reliable Sumontha. Though the story seems to present nothing new for me, the emotions of the actors are very strong and convincing. The moment that I like very much is the moment that Sumontha tries to talk about the airhostesses, but she cannot control her emotions anymore and bursts into tears. I also like the unreasonable quarrel between the wife and husband over the pestle very much.

5.The story about an old woman and a spinster daughter is very interesting. I admire the patience of the daughter in this story very much.

In conclusion, I worship the script and the performances in this play. If I have to match this play with a film, I will match it with COMING TO TERMS WITH THE DEAD (1994, Pascale Ferran).

THE CITY BELOW (2010, Christoph Hochhäusler, A+++++++++++++++)

One of the most impressive endings ever. ตอนจบของหนังเรื่องนี้นี่มันไม่คิดชีวิตอะไรกันอีกต่อไปแล้ว

VARIOUS WAYS TO DEAL WITH LOVE (RAINBOW VERSION) (2012, Pisal Pattanapeeradech, A+/A)

สารพัด...จัดสรร "รัก" ฉบับสีรุ้ง

Theoretically, this is the kind of stage plays I like very much. It is about gays and sexual ambiguities. It feels very intimate. It is about people talking about problems in their lives and relationships. It is not very different from an Eric Rohmer's film. It also reminds me of SAME OLD SONG (1997, Alain Resnais), because characters in this play burst into songs from time to time.

But I give it only A+A, because I think it lacks some "magic". It lacks some kinds of magic which will make this play very touching. However, I myself don't know what this magic is. I don't know exactly how to improve this play. I only feel that there's something missing from this play.

Or maybe there's nothing missing from this play. What is missing is my own life experience, the kind of experience which can make me identify myself more with the characters, or make me sympathize more with the characters. Though this play is about gays and sexual ambiguities, I can't identify myself much with the characters. They are very interesting characters: an effeminate guy who used to be married to a woman (Pisal Pattanapeeradech), a married guy who prefers to spend time with a male friend rather than with his wife (Pongtaris Juntara), a straight boy who has sex with a transvestite, a straight guy who has sex with a transsexual (Chatdanai Musigchai), and a married guy who likes to have sex with many men. These characters are very interesting "case studies", but I'm not sure if the play is really successful in making these characters become something more than "case studies", or become "human beings".

The scene which touches me the most is the scene in which Pisal sang the song I'M LONELY by Anchalee Jongkadeekij. It is very easy for me to understand the loneliness of Pisal's character in that moment. The lustful character (Nammon Joiraksa) also reminds me of some gay friends. But I can't sympathize much with the other three characters. Maybe it is because I wish they chose to continue exploring having sex with men/transvestites/transsexuals, instead of choosing to go back to their wives. Hahaha.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2nMI8Oma-4

In conclusion, I still like this play a lot, because it deals with how inadequate our vocabulary is for sexual orientation.

THERAPY (2012, Nophand Boonyai + Dujdao Vadhanapakorn Boonyai, A++++++++++)

This stage play gives a new experience for me -- it presents us a real-time session between an art therapist and his client/patient. It shows us how an art therapist works, and it may help us deal with our own emotional problems indirectly.

What I like very much in this play includes the character of the patient's wife (Donruedee Jamraschai). She is so interesting as a character that I regret she is not the main character in this play. I like it very much that she dares to comment on the clothes of the therapist's assistant. I think most people don't do things like that. So when Donruedee's character does that thing, I think this character has a very interesting personality, or even a very interesting psychological or mental problem. If this character becomes a main character in a film, I think that film has the potential to be as great as SEPTEMBER (1987, Woody Allen) or ANOTHER WOMAN (1988, Woody Allen).

The character of the therapist (Anupun Pruegpunkajee) is also very interesting. He is the opposite of me. He is very calm and can control his emotions very well. I wish to be like him. I think I get angry very easily, though not as violently as the patient in this play (Saifah Tanthana). Watching this play makes me realize how our emotions can get out of control very easily, and how we might be able to calm ourselves down.

Talking about mental problems, I think one film which presents a mental problem which is very similar to mine is SMOKING/NO SMOKING (1993, Alain Resnais, A+30). There's a scene in this film in which Sabine Azema tries to organize her own shop in a fair, or something like that, but she can't do it in time, and then she has a nervous breakdown. That scene reminds me of my own anxiety. I'm always worried that I cannot do my work, or I cannot do it well, or I cannot finish it in time. Maybe I need to see some therapists.

IT GETS BETTER (2012, Tanwarin Sukkhapisit, A++++++++++)

What I like the most in this film may be its intricate plot, though I feel some parts of the film seem too rushed, especially the scene in which a divorce decision is made. There are so many decisions made in five minutes in that scene that I think it would have taken a week for me to make so many important decisions like that.

Apart from that point, I like nearly everything in this film. I also like it very much that there's no real redemption for the homophobic father in this film. Many films in this world try to teach us that we should not neglect our own parents. However, every parent is different, and some parents really deserve to be punished, neglected, or kept at a distance. IT GETS BETTER is one of very few films that I love because it presents a father who may deserve to be neglected or kept at a distance. (That is the same reason why CRY IN SILENCE (2006, J. G. Biggs) is one of my most favorite films of all time.)

If I have to screen IT GETS BETTER with another film, I may choose to screen it together with INCENDIES (2010, Denis Villeneuve, Canada, A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++), because both films deal with unpredictable family relationships and have excellently intricate scripts.

POLISH NEW WAVE FILM PROGRAM AT THAMMASAT

ทุกวันอาทิตย์ระหว่างวันที่ 12 กุมภาพันธ์ – 1 เมษายน 2545 ตั้งแต่เวลา 12.00 น. เป็นต้นไป
ณ ห้องเรวัต พุทธินันท์ ชั้นใต้ดิน U2 หอสมุด ปรีดี พนมยงค์ มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์ ท่าพระจันทร์
โทรศัพท์ 0-2613-3529 หรือ 0-2613-3530
ชมฟรี!!! (โปรดแจ้งเจ้าหน้าที่ห้องสมุดว่ามาชมภาพยนตร์ และกรุณาแต่งกายสุภาพ)
วันอาทิตย์ที่ 12 กุมภาพันธ์
12.30 น. The Last Day of Summer (1958, 66min) กำกับโดย Tadeusz Konwicki
14.00 น. Nobody's Calling (1960, 86min) กำกับโดย Kazimierz Kutz
วันอาทิตย์ที่ 19 กุมภาพันธ์
12.30 น. Identification Marks: None (1964, 73min) กำกับโดย Jerzy Skolimowski
14.15 น. Barrier (1966, 77min) กำกับโดย Jerzy Skolimowski
วันอาทิตย์ที่ 26 กุมภาพันธ์
12.30 น. The Structure of Crystal (1969, 74min) กำกับโดย Krzysztof Zanussi
14.15 น. The Illumination (1973, 87min) กำกับโดย Krzysztof Zanussi
วันอาทิตย์ที่ 4 มีนาคม
12.30 น. The Third Part of the Night (1971, 95min) กำกับโดย Andrzej Zulawski
14.30 น. The Hour-Glass Sanatorium (1973, 124min) กำกับโดย Wojciech Has
วันอาทิตย์ที่ 11 มีนาคม
12.30 น. The Days of Matthew (1968, 80min) กำกับโดย Witold Leszczynski
14.15 น. Konopielka (1983, 95min) กำกับโดย Witold Leszczynsk
วันอาทิตย์ที่ 18 มีนาคม
12.30 น. Through and Through (1973, 70min) กำกับโดย Grzegorz Krolikiewicz
14.15 น. Permanent Objections (1975, 70min) กำกับโดย Grzegorz Krolikiewicz
วันอาทิตย์ที่ 25 มีนาคม
12.30 น. The Hydro-riddle (1970, 70min) กำกับโดย Andrzej Kondratiuk
14.00 น. Golem (1980, 89min) กำกับโดย Piotr Szulkin
วันอาทิตย์ที่ 1 เมษายน
12.00 น. Mother Joan of the Angels (1961, 110min) กำกับโดย Jerzy Kawalerowicz
14.00 น. Pharaoh (1966, 180min) กำกับโดย Jerzy Kawalerowicz
วันอาทิตย์ที่ 8 เมษายน
12.30 น. Wojciech Wiszniewski's short documentaries (1967-78) กำกับโดย Wojciech Wiszniewski
14.30 น. Kazimierz Karabasz's short documentaries (1955-1973) กำกับโดย Kazimierz Karabasz
เรื่องย่อภาพยนตร์
Mother Joan of the Angels (1961, 110min) กำกับโดย Jerzy Kawalerowicz
ย้อนเรื่องราวสู่โปแลนด์ในยุคกลาง เมื่อเหล่าแม่ชีประจำโบสถ์ในถิ่นไกลที่ต่างดูเหมือนว่าตกอยู่ใต้มนต์สะกดแห่งซาตาน เลยเถิดสู่การลงโทษเผาทั้งเป็นต่อนักบวช นายหนึ่ง เป็นเหตุให้หลวงพ่อซูรินต้องเดินทางเพื่อเสาะหาความจริง
Pharaoh (1966, 180min) กำกับโดย Jerzy Kawalerowicz
การสิ้นพระชนย์ของฟาโรห์องค์ก่อน นำมาซึ่งการต่อสู้แย่งชิงอำนาจระหว่างเหล่าผู้จงรักภักดีต่อองค์ฟาโรห์รามเสสที่6ผู้สืบทอดราชบัลลังก์ และกลุ่มนักบวชผู้ต้องการยึดครองอำนาจเป็นของตน
The Last Day of Summer (1958, 66min) กำกับโดย Tadeusz Konwicki
สองคู่ตุนาหงันพบกันกลางท่ามกลางทะเลทรายอันโดดเดี่ยว ทว่าสถานที่แห่งนั้นเปล่าเปลี่ยวเกินกว่าที่จะพร่ำเพลงรัก แต่มันพาทั้งคู่ตกเข้าสู่ภวังค์แห่งความทรงจำอันเงียบงันจากสงครามอันยากจะลบเลือน
Nobody's Calling (1960, 86min) กำกับโดย Kazimierz Kutz
สร้างจากนิยายชื่อเดียกันซึ่งไม่เคยถูกตีพิมพ์ในโปแลนด์ของ Jozef Hen เล่าเรื่องชะตาชีวิตชาวโปแลนด์ในยุคข้าวยากหมากแพงในช่วงสงคราม ผ่านตัวละครสองหนุ่มสาวอันเป็นดั่งภาพแทนของการเฝ้ามองสู่ความหวังและความฝัน
Identification Marks: None (1964, 73min) กำกับโดย Jerzy Skolimowski
หนุ่มนักศึกษาวิชามีนวิทยาผู้เหลือเวลาเพียงไม่กี่ชั่วโมงในการใช้ชีวิตปกติสุขและจัดการสิ่งที่คั่งข้าง ก่อนที่ต้องเดินหน้าเข้าสู่รั้วกองพันเข้าสู่การเป็นทหารที่จะพรากชีวิตวัยหนุ่มเขาไปตลอดกาล
Barrier (1966, 77min) กำกับโดย Jerzy Skolimowski
บทบันทึกการไม่ยอมจำนนต่อสังคมและรัฐของวัยหนุ่มเล่าเรื่องผ่าน นักศึกษาแพทย์ผู้ออกเดินสู่หนทางโดดเดี่ยวเพื่อค้นหาโลกใหม่และทะลายม่านหมอกแห่งความหวดกลัวของสังคมเผด็จการ
The Structure of Crystal (1969, 74min) กำกับโดย Krzysztof Zanussi
มาเร็คนักฟิสิกส์ชื่อก้องมุ่งหน้าสู่ต่างเมืองเพื่อพบกับแจนเกลอเก่าเมื่อครั้งเป็นนักศึกษา ทว่าดูเหมือนว่าแจนนั้นได้หลีกหนีจากสังคมโดยสิ้นเชิงและดำดิ่งเข้าสู่จิตวิญญาณภายใน
The Illumination (1973, 87min) กำกับโดย Krzysztof Zanussi
เรื่องราวตามติดชีวิตของเด็กหนุ่มฟรานซิสเซกตั้งแต่ครั้งเข้าเรียนสู่เดินออกจากรั้วมหาวิทยาลัย ที่นอกเหนือจากจากชีวิตการเรียนแล้ว การดำดิ่งสู่การเรียนรู้ก้นบึ้งที่แท้จริงของชีวิตนั้นนำพาเขาเข้าสู่โลกใบที่แท้จริง
The Third Part of the Night (1971, 95min) กำกับโดย Andrzej Zulawski
ช่วงสงครามโลกครั้งที่สอง มิคาลผู้สูญสิ้นทั้งลูกและภรรยากับความโหดร้ายชองนาซี เขาโซซัดโซเซพลัดหลงสู่เมืองหนึ่ง และได้รับการช่วยเหลือจากหญิงสาวที่ละม้ายคล้ายกับภรรยาผู้จากไปของมิคาลยิ่งนัก
The Hour-Glass Sanatorium (1973, 124min) กำกับโดย Wojciech Has
โจเซฟเดินทางมุ่งหน้าชนบทเพื่อเยี่ยมผู้เป็นพ่อที่สถานพักฟื้นผู้ป่วย การเดินทางด้วยรถไฟนั้นกระตุ้นความทรงจำและจินตนาการพันลึกเข้าแทรกซ้อนปนเปเกิดเป็นเรื่องราวเขาวงกตพิสดารที่ทาบทับกันระหว่างความจริงและความ
The Days of Matthew (1968, 80min) กำกับโดย Witold Leszczynski
มาเทอุซชายหนุ่มผู้แปลกแยกต่อโลกผู้อาศัยอยู่กับน้องสาวในหมู่บ้านชนบท วันหนึ่งเมื่อน้องสาวแสนสวยเกิดตกหลุมรักเข้ากับไอ่หนุ่มช่างตัดไม้ ความโดดเดี่ยวและสับสนยิ่งเท่าทวีเข้าสุมรุมในจิตใจของเขา
Konopielka (1983, 95min) กำกับโดย Witold Leszczynsk
การมาของครูคนใหม่ ที่ความสาวสวยของเธอ สร้างความวุ่นวายแก่หมู่บ้านเงียบสงบอย่างมโหฬาร โดยเฉพาะกับคาซิอุซชายชาวนาผู้จับจดที่ตกหลุมรักเธอเข้าอย่างเต็มเปา
Through and Through (1973, 70min) กำกับโดย Grzegorz Krolikiewicz
มาลิซและมาเรียคู่สามีภรรยาปากกัดตีนถีบกับการทำงานหาเลี้ยงชีพจากวันสู่คืน แถมทั้งยังต้อง อดทนต่อคำสบประมาทของครอบครัว ท้ายที่สุดความกดดันบีบเค้นให้ทั้งคู่ต้องเดินหน้าเข้าสู่ด้านมืด
Permanent Objections (1975, 70min) กำกับโดย Grzegorz Krolikiewicz
ฟราเซ็ก อาชญากรและนักพนันตัวร้าย ที่แม้ว่าอายุจะล่วงเลยเข้าสู่วัยกลางคนแต่มองไม่เห็นแม้แต่ความมุ่งหวังและอนาคตของชีวิต จนกระทั่งความเปลี่ยนแปลงเกิดขึ้นเมื่อวันหนึ่งเขาได้พบกับชายผู้แรกพบนั้นดูคลับคล้ายกับเจ้าหน้าที่รับรัฐบาล
The Hydro-riddle (1970, 70min) กำกับโดย Andrzej Kondratiuk
วิกฤตการณ์โลกร้อนประทุสู่จุดสูงสุด น้นั้นเป็นสิ่งที่ล้ำค่ายิ่งกว่าเพชรนิลจินดา แต่การสูญหายอย่างไร้ร่องรอยของของเครื่องปฏิสารพลังน้ำ เป็นเหตุให้ ยอดมนุษย์ประหลาดโลกต้องออกสืบค้นหาความจริงเพื่อกู้โลกสู่ความสงบสุข
Golem (1980, 89min) กำกับโดย Piotr Szulkin
เมื่อโลกเข้าสู่วันที่วิทยาศาสตร์เข้าสู่จุดสูงสุด เทคโนโลยีสามารถเข้าควบคุมจิตใจของมนุษย์ครึ่งจักรกล แต่ปัญหาเริ่มตั้งเค้าเมื่อหนึ่งในนั้นบังเกิดความรู้สึกนึกคิดถึงอิสระภาพ

Film Wish List: THE WALL (2012, Julian Roman Poelsler, Austria)

SYNOPSIS

The cawing of the crows breaks through the biting cold whilst, inside a bare hunting cabin, a woman (Martina Gedeck) forces her words into tight narrow lines on her last sheet of paper. Her fingernails are filthy from all the work. The expression on her face mirrors her fate. This woman is not writing her story out of pleasure, this woman is writing to save herself from losing her mind.

The rays of sunlight on a beautiful day in May evoke her memories. With her friends Hugo and Luise and their dog Luchs, she drives through the stunning landscape of the Austrian mountains to their lodge for a weekend getaway. The couple sets off that evening on a short hike to the village to catch some of the excellent fresh air. They promise to return before dawn. The woman and the dog remain behind, sitting on the rustically romantic wooden porch. She appears out of place in her urban clothes. This is not her world.

The next morning, the couple has not yet returned. The woman wonders what might have happened. Her friends would never have been so inconsiderate as to leave her in the hut alone overnight. She decides to go and look for them, setting off in her city shoes with Luchs down the stony path to the valley. Suddenly the dog begins to howl and stops walking. The woman hits against an invisible wall. Bewildered, her hands move through the air touching the inexplicable barrier that separates her from the rest of the world. The blue sky and the nature around her seem as normal as always. The birds are chirping as if nothing has happened. She hears a loud thumping but then realizes it’s coming from inside her. Her heart is gripped with fear long before she even realizes it. What has happened? Surely someone must have sounded the alarm by now. Even more puzzling than this wall: There is not a single person in sight.

She is convinced that she will not be able to survive. And yet she knows that she must survive; there’s no way out for her. The second time the woman sets off to explore the area bounded by this wall, she is better equipped: Through her binoculars she can see the people in the neighboring hut, frozen in mid-motion as if turned to stone. A swift death must have caught them by surprise. Perhaps it would have been wiser had she gone with her friends into the village.

With time the woman manages to come to terms with her new surroundings. She finds a cow, which she names Bella. She plants potatoes, goes hunting, survives the winter. In the summer she moves to a nearby alpine hut and, inspired by the fascinating mountain scenery, she falls into the delicate experience of connecting with herself. The thought of someone ever finding her no longer haunts her, she realizes.

But one day, the time comes and she is found. But not as she had expected. This meeting changes her life a second time and, in her own way, she resolves the questions that will never let her go.

Favorite Old Songs 130: NEW AGE OF FAITH (1989) -- L.B. Bad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp1N0iArsuU

A QUOTE FROM "EVEN THE RAIN"

"The truth has many enemies. The lie has many friends." --from the film EVEN THE RAIN (2010, Icíar Bollaín, Spain, A++++++++++)

THE RIPPLE (2012, Chumpon Utayophat, A+30)

This art exhibition is held at Jamjuree Art Gallery until February 21, 2012. I like this exhibition very much, because some wood carving works in this exhibition make me feel extremely calm. It seems as if some wood carving works in this exhibition possess the power of tranquility, and I'm completely overwhelmed by it. My most favorite work in this exhibition is the wood table called RIPPLES AND LAND NO.1 (2011). Looking at this table makes me feel like meditating.

If I have to screen some films for this exhibition, I would choose these films, because these films are also about water, and their power of tranquility casts a spell on me:

1.FLOW (2011, Chew Win Chen, Malaysia)

2.HIGH KUKUS (1973, James Broughton)

3.PISCINE (2002, Jean-Baptiste Bruant + Maria Spangaro)

Favorite Old Songs 129: I WANT TO BE FREE (1981) -- Toyah

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCHEO477u44

I'LL NEVER SMILE AGAIN (2012, Prapat Jiwarangsan, art installation, A+30)

http://wtfbangkok.com/index.php/2012/01/13/prapat-jiwarangsan-i%E2%80%99ll-never-smile-again/

This art installation includes a video installation called BURN 19 AUG 2011 (18.5 min, A+/A), but what I like the most in this exhibition is the collaged photo THRONE NO. 1 (A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++).

Most favorite films I saw in Bangkok Experimental Film Festival 6 in 2012

This list is inspired by Wiwat Lertwiwatwongsa's list:
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150575745996390

1.COMING ATTRACTIONS (2010, Peter Tscherkassky, Austria, A+30)

2.MADANG BO SAI (1999, Paisit Punpruksachat, A+30)

3.EXPLORER (1968, Pramod Pati, India, A+30)

4.PULSATION (2011, Pieter Geenen, Belgium/Cyprus, A+30)

5.LIFE CONTINUED (1966, Zhuang Ling, Taiwan, A+30)

6.FILM FROM LAMPANG (around 1971, Anonymous, A+30)

7.Found footage of Lucy Mills (around 1930, New Zealand, documentary, A+30)

8.BERNADETTE (2008, Duncan Campbell, A+30)

9.ROGHIEH (2009, Alysse Stepanian, Iran, A+30)

10.THE GARDEN (2010, Ann Steuernagel, USA, A+30)

11.PRAXIS-8 (2010, Dietmar Brehm, A+30)

12.UNTITLED ROAD MOVIE (around 1970's, Winai Euarchukiate, documentary, A+30)

13.STAR (ALTERNATIVE VERSION) (2011, Choi Sai Ho, Hong Kong, A+30)

14.HOME WORK (1966, Ho Fan, Hong Kong, A+15)

15.WORLD WITHOUT END (1953, Paul Rotha + Basil Wright, UK/Thailand/Mexico, documentary, A+15)

16.MAKE IT NEW JOHN (2009, Duncan Campbell, UK, A+15)

17.CONFERENCE (2011, Norbert Pfaffenbichler, Austria, A+15)

18.BEGGAR (1977, Law Kar, Hong Kong, A+15)

19.THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF KNOWING (2011, Tan Pin Pin, Singapore, A+15)

20.TWO CORONATIONS (2011, Stephen Connolly, UK, A+15)

21.MOROLOJA (2008, Manuela Barile. Portugal, A+15)

22.THE CITY AND THE OTHER (2010, Albert Merino, Spain, A+15)

23.HOW TO CLEAN A PUDDLE (2008, Roland Wegerer, Austria, A+15)

24.MORNING (2010, Kok Siew Wai, Malaysia, A+15)

25.SOMETHING ABOUT FIVE PEOPLE (1973, Lau Fung Kut, Hong Kong, A+10)

26.GHOSTS IN THE CLASSROOM (2011, Ukrit Sa-nguanhai, A+10)

27.UNTITLED#1, FROM THE SERIES 'EIGHT MEN LIVED IN THE ROOM' (2010, Hyewon Kwon, South Korea, A+10)

28.200,000 PHANTOMS (2008, Jean-Gabriel Périot, France, A+10)

29.SUTADI AIN'T HERE ANYMORE (2010, Marthen Luther Sesa, Indonesia, A+10)

30.OCEANO NOX (2011, Georg Wasner, Austria, A+10)

31.ENDEAVOUR (2010, Johan Lurf, Austria, A+10)

32.SPACES (2010, Signe Chiper-Lillemark, Denmark, A+10)

33.THE 7TH OF NOVEMBER (2009, Yuriy Kruchak + Yulia Kostereva, Ukraine, A+10)

34.WITHOUT WINDOWS (2009, Mohammed Harb, Palestine, A+10)

35.FOOTAGE FROM COLONEL HODGKINSON COLLECTION (1945-1947, Thailand/Burma, A+10)

36.CATWALK (Amarin Pajonyuth, A+10)

37.PERHAPS (2006, Kok Kai Foong, Malaysia, A+10)

38.AN ESCALATOR IN WORLD ORDER (2011, Kim Kyung-man, South Korea, documentary, A+5)

39.HARD RAILS ACROSS A GENTLE RIVER (2011, Tran Tranh Hien + Pham Thu Hang + Do Van Hoang + Tran Thi Phuong, Vietnam, documentary, A+5)

40.CHRONICLE OF A TAPE RECORDED OVER (2011, Nguyen Trinh Thi, Vietnam, documentary, A+5)

41.A SOLDIER'S SONG SAMPLE EXPERIMENT (2011, Nguyen Trinh Thi, Vietnam, A+5)

42.HOLD STILL (2009, Rachel Shearer, New Zealand, A+5)

43.SPACE DRAWING NO.5 (2009, Sai Hua Kuan, Singapore, A+5)

44. 2:48 MINUTES WITH THE DOOR (2009, Andres Jurado, Colombia, A+5)

45.LUNAR ECLIPSE (Boonserm Punnahitanonda, documentary, A+5)

46.WHITENESS IN DARKNESS (2012, Koji Tambata, Japan/Thailand, A+5)

There are also a lot of other films which I like very much in this festival, but I haven't included them here, because I like them a little bit less than the 46 films above.

Films seen on Sunday, February 5, 2012

1.EXPLORER (1968, Pramod Pati, India, A+30)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asQ9TgvEKvI

2.STAR (ALTERNATIVE VERSION) (2011, Choi Sai Ho, Hong Kong, A+30)
A part of the film can be viewed here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6tShDKwSSw
http://www.st-saiho.com/

3.HOME WORK (1966, Ho Fan, Hong Kong, A+15)

4.BEGGAR (1977, Law Kar, Hong Kong, A+15)

5.MORNING (2010, Kok Siew Wai, Malaysia, A+15)

6.SOMETHING ABOUT FIVE PEOPLE (1973, Lau Fung Kut, Hong Kong, A+10)

7.PERHAPS (2006, Kok Kai Foong, Malaysia, A+10)

8.WHITENESS IN DARKNESS (2012, Koji Tambata, Japan/Thailand, A+5)

9.RIOT IN HONG KONG (1974, Hou Man Wan, Hong Kong, A+)

10.AND I MAKE SHORT FILMS (1968, S.N.S. Sastry, India, A+)

11.CLAXPLOSION (1970, Pramod Pati, India, A+)

12.ABID (1972, Pramod Pati, India, A+)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7nKVTZ3uuA&feature=related

13.VLADIMIR KEMPSKY'S FILM (2010, Ichiro Sueoka, Japan, A+)

14.SUKIHARTI HALIM (2008, Ariani Darmawan, Indonesia, A+)

15.ARS COLONIA (2011, Raya Martin, Philippines, A+)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCudtngAqxw

16.FADE IN: EXT. STORAGE-CU CHI-DAY (2010, The Propeller Group, Vietnam, A+)

17.CHILD ON CHESS BOARD (1979, Vijay B Chandra, India, A+)

18.FLOW (2011, Chew Win Chen, Malaysia, A+)

19.MAKING OF TOKYO (2011, Yousuke Sano, Japan, A+)

20.ROUTINE (1970, Law Kar, Hong Kong, A+)

21.THE TRIP (1970, Pramod Pati, India, A+)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZatZD4KeLis

22.DEMONSTRATE (197?, Lau Fung Kut, Hong Kong, A+)

23.THE BUTTERFLY (2004, Chan Seahuvi, Malaysia, A+)

24.WHEN THE TIME WITHOUT MY MEMORIES (2010, Alison Khor, Malaysia, A+)

25.iso (2011, Katsuyuki Hattori, Japan, A+)

26.PASSING II (2009, Au Sow Yee, Malaysia, A+)

27.SKY DON'T FALL (2011, Akiko Nakamura, Japan, A+/A)

28.THE GREEDY WHISPER (2011, Kanokporn Maleesriprasert, A+/A)


The photo comes from THE TRIP.

Films seen on Saturday, 4 February, 2012

1.FILM FROM LAMPANG (around 1971, Anonymous, A+30)

2.UNTITLED ROAD MOVIE (around 1970's, Winai Euarchukiate, documentary, A+30)

3.WORLD WITHOUT END (1953, Paul Rotha + Basil Wright, UK/Thailand/Mexico, documentary, A+15)

4.FOOTAGE FROM COLONEL HODGKINSON COLLECTION (1945-1947, Thailand/Burma, A+10)

5.CATWALK (Amarin Pajonyuth, A+10)

6.LUNAR ECLIPSE (Boonserm Punnahitanonda, documentary, A+5)

7.ROUTE 3 (2011, David Kelley + Patty Chang, Laos, A+)

8.LETTER TO SRI MOH (2011, Santiphap Inkong-ngam, A+)

9.SPRING AND FESTIVALS (1953/1954, Nguyen Van Vinh, Vietnam, documentary, A+)

10.KIDS (Amarin Pajonyuth, documentary, A+)

11.FILMS SHOT BY J C Lamster (around 1912, Indonesia, documentary, A+)

12.CITY LIGHTS (Nij Hinchiranan, A+)

13.SAHAPANICH SIGNBOARD OPENING CEREMONY (Winai Euarchukiate, documentary, A+)

14.WATERFALL, ENTERTAINMENT (Nij Hinchiranan, documentary, A+)

Austrian Fillms seen on Thursday, February 2, 2011

1.COMING ATTRACTIONS (2010, Peter Tscherkassky, A+30)

2.PRAXIS-8 (2010, Dietmar Brehm, A+30)

3.CONFERENCE (2011, Norbert Pfaffenbichler, A+15)

4.OCEANO NOX (2011, Georg Wasner, A+10)

5.ENDEAVOUR (2010, Johan Lurf, A+10)

6.TRANQUILITY (2010, Siegfried Fruhauf, A+)

FAVORITE QUOTE FROM SAYAN DANGGLOM

THE SACRIFICE OF ISAAC -- Caravaggio

"ภาพความตายไม่ใช่ภาพของการหยุดแช่ หากแต่เป็นอาการทุรนทุรายแบบนิ่ง ตายทั้งเป็นคือเป็นๆ แต่ตกอยู่ในสภาพจำนนจนต่อ การสูญเสียเชิงอุปลักษณ์เป็นการตายโดยยังเป็น ตายในวิกฤตของความไม่รู้ ตายไปพร้อมคำถามที่เป็นคำตอบอยู่ในตัว เหมือนเช่นที่อิสอัคเห็นฟืนและไฟ แต่ไม่เห็นสัตว์สังเวย จึงถามอับราฮัมผู้เป็นพ่อว่า "แต่ลูกแกะสำหรับเครื่องเผาบูชาอยู่ที่ไหน" โดยหารู้ไม่ว่าตนคือลูกแกะตัวนั้นที่พ่อจะจับมัดขึ้นแท่นสังเวยตามพระประสงค์ของพระเจ้า"-- a quote from IN A BLUR OF DESIRE: EXHIBITION CATALOGUE (2007, Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook, Sayan Dangglom)

Films seen on Wednesday, February 1, 2012

1.ROGHIEH (2009, Alysse Stepanian, Iran, A+30)
You can watch this film here:
http://vimeo.com/5614187

2.GARDEN (2010, Ann Steuernagel, USA, A+30)
You can watch the film here:
http://vimeo.com/20218252

3.MOROLOJA (2008, Manuela Barile. Portugal, A+15)

4.THE CITY AND THE OTHER (2010, Albert Merino, Spain, A+15)

5.HOW TO CLEAN A PUDDLE (2008, Roland Wegerer, Austria, A+15)
http://www.rolandwegerer.com/

6.200,000 PHANTOMS (2008, Jean-Gabriel Périot, France, A+10)
You can watch this film here:
http://vimeo.com/11457021

7.SPACES (2010, Signe Chiper-Lillemark, Denmark, A+10)
I think this film should be screened together with BERLIN (10 NOV 1974 - 28 JAN 1975) EXERCISES IN NINE PARTS: DREAMING UNDER WATER OF THINGS AFAR (1974-1975, Rebecca Horn)

8.THE 7TH OF NOVEMBER (2009, Yuriy Kruchak + Yulia Kostereva, Ukraine, A+10)

9.WITHOUT WINDOWS (2009, Mohammed Harb, Palestine, A+10)

10.SPACE DRAWING NO.5 (2009, Sai Hua Kuan, Singapore, A+5)
You can see another film of Sai Hua Kuan here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df2vMQpx6nE

11.2:48 MINUTES WITH THE DOOR (2009, Andres Jurado, Colombia, A+5)

12.WINTER'S END (2010, Wrik Mead, Canada, A+)

13.NOLI ME TANGERE (2008, Marsha Yozefpolsky, Israel, A+)

14.BLACK HOLE (2009, Johanna Reich, Germany, A+)
You can watch the film here:
http://www.johannareich.com/english/black-hole

15.NOT WITHOUT A BANG (2008, Alessandro Amaducci, Italy, A+/A)

16.142-143 (2010, Pablo Fernandez-Pujol, Spain, animation, A+/A)

Films seen on Monday, January 30, 2012

1.BERNADETTE (2008, Duncan Campbell, A+30)
I just watched BLOODY SUNDAY (2001, Paul Greengrass, A+30) last year, so watching BERNADETTE helps me see the broader picture of the Northern Ireland conflict. I also like the last part of the film very much, though I don't know what the voiceover is saying in the last part. The coupling of the voiceover which seems to speak in a stream-of-consciousness way with the image of a white screen with brief glimpses of something else from time to time reminds of the sublime feelings I get from the coupling of voiceover-images in Marguerite Duras' films.


2.TWO CORONATIONS (2011, Stephen Connolly, UK, A+15)
This film seems like a perfect antidote to THE KING'S SPEECH (2010, Tom Hooper), THE QUEEN (2006, Stephen Frears), and W.E. (2011, Madonna). Hahaha

Films seen on Sunday, January 29, 2012

1.PULSATION (2011, Pieter Geenen, Belgium/Cyprus, A+30)
You can watch this film here:
http://vimeo.com/31168927

The act of watching something relentlessly for a long time in this film reminds me a little bit of RUHR (2009, James Benning, A+30). Another reason why I like this film very much is because it shows the national symbol as a symbol of oppression. Some people in some countries may hate some national symbols very much, but these powerless ordinary people can do nothing against these national symbols, except turning their eyes away from the symbols.

2.LIFE CONTINUED (1966, Zhuang Ling, Taiwan, A+30)

3.Found footage of Lucy Mills (around 1930, New Zealand, documentary, A+30)
I like this found footage very much, because it seems to depict a happy lesbian relationship 80 years ago.

4.MAKE IT NEW JOHN (2009, Duncan Campbell, UK, A+15)

5.THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF KNOWING (2011, Tan Pin Pin, Singapore, A+15)
The impossibility of knowing the real motive of a suicide in this film reminds me of the film GILLES' WIFE (2004, Frédéric Fonteyne, A+15) and UNINVITED (2003,Lee Soo-yeon, A+30).

6.UNTITLED#1, FROM THE SERIES 'EIGHT MEN LIVED IN THE ROOM' (2010, Hyewon Kwon, South Korea, A+10)

7.SUTADI AIN'T HERE ANYMORE (2010, Marthen Luther Sesa, Indonesia, A+10)

8.HOLD STILL (2009, Rachel Shearer, New Zealand, A+5)

9.COMS DEVICE (2011, Nadav Assor, Israel, A+)

10.SACK BARROW (2011, Ben Rivers, UK, A+)

11.THE BIG PICTURE องค์ประกอบของเวลา: ในโลกไทยทัศนา (2011, Suporn Shoosongdej, A+)

12.BLUR LUMINOUS (2011, Taweewit Kijtanasoonthorn, A+)

13.PROGRESS IN TAIWAN (1960, Taiwanese Government, A+)

14.LAY CLAIM TO AN ISLAND (2009, Chris Kennedy, Canada, A+)

15.RE-BANHO (2011, Tales Frey, Portugal, A+)

16.724 14TH ST (2010, Ching Yi Tseng, Taiwan/USA, A+)

17.MY NEWBORN BABY (1967, Zhuang Ling, Taiwan, A+/A)

18.6TH BIRTHDAY AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU 1962 (1962, Charles Ong Cheng Yam, Singapore, documentary, A+/A)

19.VINCENT'S 8TH BIRTHDAY (1965, Charles Ong Cheng Yam, Singapore, documentary, A+/A)

20.BIRTHDAYS 1965 AND 1967 (1965+1967, Charles Ong Cheng Yam, Singapore, documentary, A+/A)

21.OZ@1950 (2010, Dirk De Brwyn, Netherlands, A)

22.PHI (2011, Jessica Mautner, UK, A)

FILM WISH LIST: NIGHTFALL (2011, James Benning, USA, 98 min)

In one take only, it shows a wood as day becomes night.

“Nightfall is a study of real-time light changing from day to night. It was filmed in a forest high up in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains.” (Benning).

I want to screen this film together with PERU TIME (2008, Chaloemkiat Saeyong, 18 min).

PULSATION (2011, Pieter Geenen, Belgium/Cyprus, A+30)

http://vimeo.com/31168927

Favorite Music Videos 33: NUCLEAR SEASONS -- Charli XCX (2011, Ryan Andrews)

I like the colors in this music video by Ryan Andrews very much, partly because it seems as if the music video came from an old videotape from 1980's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGmM2l39LEs

Films seen on Saturday, January 28, 2012

1.MADANG BO SAI (1999, Paisit Punpruksachat, A+30)

2.AN ESCALATOR IN WORLD ORDER (2011, Kim Kyung-man, South Korea, documentary, A+5)

3.HARD RAILS ACROSS A GENTLE RIVER (2011, Tran Tranh Hien + Pham Thu Hang + Do Van Hoang + Tran Thi Phuong, Vietnam, documentary, A+5)

4.CHRONICLE OF A TAPE RECORDED OVER (2011, Nguyen Trinh Thi, Vietnam, documentary, A+5)

5.A SOLDIER'S SONG SAMPLE EXPERIMENT (2011, Nguyen Trinh Thi, Vietnam, A+5)

6.GHOSTS IN THE CLASSROOM (2011, Ukrit Sa-nguanhai, A+5)

7.CHULAYARNNON (2008, Chulayarnnon Siriphol, A+)

8.BORING BLINKER (1985, Surabongse Binichkhah, A+)

9.NANG SOD (1985, Dome Sukawong, A+)

10.CUTTER, TRIMMER AND CHAINSAW (2011, Pathompon Tesprateep, A+)

Films seen in the World Film Festival of Bangkok 2012

(in roughly preferential order)

1.TURIN HORSE (2011, Bela Tarr, Hungary, A+30)

2.RETURN TICKET (2011, Teng Yung-ching, Taiwan, A+30)

3.WALKOVER (1965, Jerzy Skolimowski, Poland, A+30)

4.A FORMAL FILM IN NINE EPISODES, PROLOGUE & EPILOGUE (2011, Mario Pfeifer, India/Germany, A+15)

5.DOG SWEAT (2011, Hossein Keshavarz, Iran, A+15)

6.CHEONGGYECHEON MEDLEY: A DREAM OF IRON (2010, Kelvin Kyung Kun Park, South Korea, A+15)

7.ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA (2011, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Turkey, A+15)

8.THE CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAM 3D (2011, Werner Herzog, documentary, A+15)

9.HAIKUS FOR KARAOKE (2011, Roberto Santaguida, Canada, A+15)

10.DANCE TOWN (2010, Jeon Kyu-hwan, South Korea, A+10)

11.IF A TREE FALLS: A STORY OF THE EARTH LIBERATION FRONT (2011, Marshall Curry + Sam Cullman, documentary, A+10)

12.NOSTALGIA FOR THE LIGHT (2010, Patricio Guzman, Chile, documentary, A+10)

13.HAIR (2010, Tayfun Pirselimoglu, Turkey, A+10)

14.LUNG NEAW VISITS HIS NEIGHBOURS (2011, Rirkrit Tiravanija, documentary, A+10)

15.QUEEN'S ENCOUNTER (2010, Enoch Cheng, Hong Kong, A+10)

16. THE MECHANISM OF SPRING (2010, Atsushi Wada, Japan, animation, A+10)

17.I AM HAPPY (2011, Abinash Bikram Shah, Nepal, A+10)

18.GEORGE THE HEDGEHOG (2011, Wojciech Wawszczyk + Jakub Tarkowski + Tomasz Lesniak, animation, Poland, A+5)

19.THE ILLUSIONIST (2010, Sylvain Chomet, animation, France, A+5)

20.JULIETS: ONE MORE JULIET (2010, Chen Yu-hsun, Taiwan, A+5)

21.LITTLE JERUSALEM (2005, Karin Albou, France, A+5)

22.THE KID WHO LIES (2011, Marite Ugas, Venezuela/Peru, A+5)

23.THE OTHER TOWN (2010, Nefin Dinc, Turkey, documentary, A+5)

24.THE BALLAD OF GENESIS AND LADY JAYE (2010, Marie Losier, documentary, A+5)

25.SHANGHAI LOVE MARKET (2011, Craig Rosenthal, China, A+5)

26.NO.89 SHIMEN ROAD (2010, Shu Haolun, China, A+)

27.JULIETS: JULIET'S CHOICE (2010, Hou Chi-jan, Taiwan, A+)

28.A SCREAMING MAN (2010, Mohamat-Saleh Haroun, Chad, A+)

29.SEVEN DAYS IN HEAVEN (2010, Liu Zi-jie + Yulin Wang, Taiwan, A+)

30.MASALA MAMA (2010, Michael Kam, Singapore, A+)

31.PUSHED (2011, Florian Schneider, Germany, documentary, A+)

32.ZEPHYR (2010, Belma Bas, Turkey, A+)

33.THREE HOURS (2010, Annarita Zambrano, Italy, A+)

34.LEAVING BAGHDAD (2010, Koutaiba Al-Janabi, Iraq, A+/A)

35.PINOY SUNDAY (2009, Wi Ding Ho, Taiwan/Philippines, A+/A)

36.LOVELY MAN (2011, Teddy Soeriaatmadja, Indonesia, A+/A)

37.JULIETS: TWO JULIETS (2010, Shen Ko-shang, Taiwan, A+/A)

38.A HAPPY WISH (2010, Jack Shih, Taiwan, animation, A+/A)

39.23RD FRAME (2011, Victor Santos, Portugal, A+/A)

40.WASTE LAND (2010, Lucy Walker, Brazil, documentary, A)

41.DO YOU REMEMBER ME? (2011, Benjamin Genissel, A)

42.SIDEWALK WARS (2010, Emil Stenberg, Sweden A)

43.THE BEETLE SOLDIERS (2011, Ari Sihasale, Indonesia, B)

My WFFBKK 2010
http://celinejulie.blogspot.com/2010/11/wffbkk-2010-is-best-film-festival-in-my.html

My WFFBKK 2009
http://celinejulie.blogspot.com/2009/11/i-forgot-title-is-my-most-favorite.html

Films seen on Friday, January 27, 2012

1.RETURN TICKET (2011, Teng Yung-ching, Taiwan, A+30)

2.ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA (2011, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Turkey, A+15)

3.HAIKUS FOR KARAOKE (2011, Roberto Santaguida, Canada, A+15)

4. THE MECHANISM OF SPRING (2010, Atsushi Wada, Japan, animation, A+10)

5.GEORGE THE HEDGEHOG (2011, Wojciech Wawszczyk + Jakub Tarkowski + Tomasz Lesniak, animation, Poland, A+5)

6.SHANGHAI LOVE MARKET (2011, Craig Rosenthal, China, A+5)

7.23RD FRAME (2011, Victor Santos, Portugal, A+/A)

8.SIDEWALK WARS (2010, Emil Stenberg, Sweden A)