After the short film program in the exhibition “THIRTEENTH ANNIVERSARY OF DK FILMHOUSE (FILMVIRUS)”, my friends and I had some conversations, and Sonthaya Subyen also joined in the conversations. He had some interesting comments, which include:
1.DEAD SNACK (2008, Pichanund Laohapornsvan) should be screened together with Luis Bunuel’s films.
2.STILL (2008, Visarut Deelorm) should be screened together with STRANGER THAN PARADISE (1984, Jim Jarmusch).
3.The audience who love PLOTTAPE (2007, Kitisak Khunpetch) may also love short stories by Julio Cortazar.
--Sonthaya also remarked that some Thai short films nowadays have the rhythm and structure like the rhythm and structure of “music”. This may be becauce some Thai filmmakers nowadays used to be serious listeners of music, before they started making films. That explains why some Thai short films have some kinds of loops like music. This characteristic is also the main difference between current Thai filmmakers and old Thai filmmakers, because many old Thai filmmakers are influenced by the rhythm and structure of “novel”, not “music”. These old Thai filmmakers are serious readers of novels, while many current Thai filmmakers spend their time listening to music, not reading novels.
This change in “Thai cinema” also affects film criticism. Young film critics, like Merveillesxx, who grew up listening to the same kind of music that the current Thai filmmakers listen to, may be able to understand or appreciate some aspects (such as the rhythm and the structure) or some feelings of these current Thai films more than old film critics. This generation gap is what some old film critics may have to overcome in order to understand some current Thai films.
What Sonthaya said reminded me of something about current Thai filmmakers. Some Thai filmmakers nowadays are also musicians. These Thai filmmakers-musicians include:
1.Hamer Salwala (BOONTHING)
http://www.youtube.com/user/ahamersfilm
2.Kittipat Knoknark (GREETING)
http://www.myspace.com/postafternoon
3.Nathan Homsup (PANDA)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHVAsQOuzpo
4.Samart Imkham (ROUGH NIGHT)
http://www.myspace.com/passionofanna
5.Tossapol Boonsinsukh (AFTERNOON TIMES)
http://www.youtube.com/user/nangtoszlong
http://www.myspace.com/coconutnutcreamcream
6.Tulapop Saenjaroen (TALES OF SWIMMING POOL)
http://www.myspace.com/damnchestnut
http://tulapop.wordpress.com/
7.Vasuphon Kriangprapakit (PARTS)
He is a member of a band called TEN TO TWELVE.
http://i-musicale.exteen.com/20080713/ten-to-twelve-10-12
I also think it may be interesting to conduct a survey on current Thai filmmakers to find how many percentages of them listen to Sigur Ros, read Haruki Murakami, or read Tamayantee. If the percentages of current Thai filmmakers who listen to Sigur Ros are more than the ones who read Tamayantee, will this fact help explain some differences between the structure and rhythm of new Thai films and old Thai films?
--Sonthaya also talked about some directors whose strength is the scripts, not the visual aspects of their films. These directors include Woody Allen and David Mamet. What Sonthaya talked reminds me of Eag Tammakrang, who directed DOGSHIT (2008). I think Eag Tammakrang belongs to this group of directors.
Monday, February 09, 2009
"PERFECT BALANCE?" AND MY SUBCONSCIOUS
This is my comment in Filmsick’s blog:
http://filmsick.exteen.com/20090208/rough-cut-mds-filmsick
ดู PERFECT BALANCE? รอบสองแล้วก็ชอบมาก ถึงแม้จะยังไม่เข้าใจหนังเหมือนเดิม อย่างไรก็ดี การที่เรารู้สึกถูกโฉลกกับหนังเรื่องนี้มากๆ โดยที่เราไม่เข้าใจมัน ทำให้เราตั้งข้อสันนิษฐานว่าหนังเรื่องนี้อาจจะมีอะไรบางอย่างโดนจิตใต้สำนึกของเรา และเราก็เลยสงสัยว่า บางทีหนังเรื่องนี้อาจจะมอง "ความรัก" หรือ "การมีผัว" ในแง่ลบ หนังเรื่องนี้ก็เลยถูกโฉลกกับจิตใต้สำนึกของเรามากเป็นพิเศษ ฮ่าๆๆ
ขอบคุณมากๆที่เอา HONGSA'S SCHOOL BAG, WAY TO BLUE กับ ENDLESS RHYME มาฉาย ชอบหนังสามเรื่องนี้มากๆ อยากดู ENDLESS RHYME รอบสอง เพราะเรารู้สึกว่าเรายังจูนอารมณ์ของเราให้เข้ากับหนังได้ไม่เต็มที่ในการดูรอบแรก ซึ่งสิ่งนี้เคยเกิดขึ้นกับเราตอนที่ดูหนังสั้นของ BRUCE BAILLIE เหมือนกัน คือเราต้องดูรอบแรกก่อน แล้วเราถึงจะรู้ว่าเราจะต้องจูนอารมณ์ของเรายังไง เราถึงจะมีอารมณ์ร่วมอย่างสุดขีดไปกับหนังได้ในการดูรอบสอง
ได้ดู "กลิ่นสายลม" รอบสอง แล้วทำให้รู้สึกว่า ฉากฝนตกในหนังเรื่องนี้ ทำหน้าที่คล้ายๆเป็นฉาก "ไคลแมกซ์" ก่อนที่หนังจะจบลงอย่างมีความสุขด้วยฉากชนบทที่สดชื่นหลังฝนตก
http://filmsick.exteen.com/20090208/rough-cut-mds-filmsick
ดู PERFECT BALANCE? รอบสองแล้วก็ชอบมาก ถึงแม้จะยังไม่เข้าใจหนังเหมือนเดิม อย่างไรก็ดี การที่เรารู้สึกถูกโฉลกกับหนังเรื่องนี้มากๆ โดยที่เราไม่เข้าใจมัน ทำให้เราตั้งข้อสันนิษฐานว่าหนังเรื่องนี้อาจจะมีอะไรบางอย่างโดนจิตใต้สำนึกของเรา และเราก็เลยสงสัยว่า บางทีหนังเรื่องนี้อาจจะมอง "ความรัก" หรือ "การมีผัว" ในแง่ลบ หนังเรื่องนี้ก็เลยถูกโฉลกกับจิตใต้สำนึกของเรามากเป็นพิเศษ ฮ่าๆๆ
ขอบคุณมากๆที่เอา HONGSA'S SCHOOL BAG, WAY TO BLUE กับ ENDLESS RHYME มาฉาย ชอบหนังสามเรื่องนี้มากๆ อยากดู ENDLESS RHYME รอบสอง เพราะเรารู้สึกว่าเรายังจูนอารมณ์ของเราให้เข้ากับหนังได้ไม่เต็มที่ในการดูรอบแรก ซึ่งสิ่งนี้เคยเกิดขึ้นกับเราตอนที่ดูหนังสั้นของ BRUCE BAILLIE เหมือนกัน คือเราต้องดูรอบแรกก่อน แล้วเราถึงจะรู้ว่าเราจะต้องจูนอารมณ์ของเรายังไง เราถึงจะมีอารมณ์ร่วมอย่างสุดขีดไปกับหนังได้ในการดูรอบสอง
ได้ดู "กลิ่นสายลม" รอบสอง แล้วทำให้รู้สึกว่า ฉากฝนตกในหนังเรื่องนี้ ทำหน้าที่คล้ายๆเป็นฉาก "ไคลแมกซ์" ก่อนที่หนังจะจบลงอย่างมีความสุขด้วยฉากชนบทที่สดชื่นหลังฝนตก
WANG YUEN HAB
This is my comment in Filmsick's blog:
http://filmsick.exteen.com/20090208/rough-cut-mds-filmsick
ขอบคุณมากๆจ้าที่เขียนถึงหนังเหล่านี้ และขอกราบขอบคุณที่จัดงานนี้ขึ้นมา เพราะทำให้เราได้มีโอกาสดูหนังที่ชอบมากๆอีกรอบหนึ่ง หลังจากที่เคยคิดว่าชาตินี้อาจไม่มีโอกาสได้ดูหนังเหล่านี้อีกแล้ว
ปัจจัยนึงที่เราชอบ "วังยื่นหาบ" มากๆ อาจจะเป็นเพราะเราไม่ค่อยได้เห็นสิ่งเหล่านี้ปรากฏอยู่ในสื่อต่างๆที่เราพบเห็นในชีวิตประจำวันในกรุงเทพ เรารู้สึกชอบใบหน้าของผู้คนในหนังมากๆ เพราะเรารู้สึกว่านี่มันเป็นใบหน้าของคนจริงๆ และเป็นความเป็นอยู่ของเขาจริงๆ ไม่ใช่ใบหน้าของนายแบบหรือนางแบบ และเราก็ไม่ค่อยได้ฟัง "ภาษาถิ่น" เหล่านี้ในสื่อต่างๆที่เราพบเห็นในกรุงเทพด้วย สรุปว่าปัจจัยสำคัญอันนึงที่ทำให้เราชอบหนังเรื่องนี้เป็นเพราะว่ามัน "แตกต่าง" จากสิ่งอื่นๆที่เราพบเห็นเป็นประจำน่ะ แต่ถ้าหากในอนาคตมีการผลิตหนังแนวนี้ออกมาเยอะๆ หรือมีอะไรอย่างนี้ให้เราได้ดูเป็นประจำทางทีวีหลังข่าว เราก็อาจจะชอบหนังแนวนี้น้อยลงก็ได้ แต่ ณ ปัจจุบันนี้ เรายังคงชอบหนังเรื่องนี้อย่างสุดๆอยู่ เพราะ "ความแตกต่าง" จากสิ่งอื่นๆที่เราพบเห็นเป็นประจำในสื่อ
การที่หนังเรื่องนี้ไม่มีเนื้อเรื่อง ก็ทำให้เราอินกับมันได้ง่ายขึ้นด้วย ซึ่งสิ่งนี้จะแตกต่างจาก "มิวสิควิดีโอเพลงลูกทุ่ง" เพราะการที่เพลงลูกทุ่งมีเนื้อเพลง แต่เราไม่ค่อยมีอารมณ์ร่วมไปกับเนื้อเพลงดังกล่าว ก็เลยทำให้เราไม่ได้มีความสุขไปกับการดูมิวสิควิดีโอเพลงลูกทุ่ง แต่เราสามารถมีอารมณ์ร่วมได้ในระดับนึงกับการใช้ชีวิตในวังยื่นหาบ
http://filmsick.exteen.com/20090208/rough-cut-mds-filmsick
ขอบคุณมากๆจ้าที่เขียนถึงหนังเหล่านี้ และขอกราบขอบคุณที่จัดงานนี้ขึ้นมา เพราะทำให้เราได้มีโอกาสดูหนังที่ชอบมากๆอีกรอบหนึ่ง หลังจากที่เคยคิดว่าชาตินี้อาจไม่มีโอกาสได้ดูหนังเหล่านี้อีกแล้ว
ปัจจัยนึงที่เราชอบ "วังยื่นหาบ" มากๆ อาจจะเป็นเพราะเราไม่ค่อยได้เห็นสิ่งเหล่านี้ปรากฏอยู่ในสื่อต่างๆที่เราพบเห็นในชีวิตประจำวันในกรุงเทพ เรารู้สึกชอบใบหน้าของผู้คนในหนังมากๆ เพราะเรารู้สึกว่านี่มันเป็นใบหน้าของคนจริงๆ และเป็นความเป็นอยู่ของเขาจริงๆ ไม่ใช่ใบหน้าของนายแบบหรือนางแบบ และเราก็ไม่ค่อยได้ฟัง "ภาษาถิ่น" เหล่านี้ในสื่อต่างๆที่เราพบเห็นในกรุงเทพด้วย สรุปว่าปัจจัยสำคัญอันนึงที่ทำให้เราชอบหนังเรื่องนี้เป็นเพราะว่ามัน "แตกต่าง" จากสิ่งอื่นๆที่เราพบเห็นเป็นประจำน่ะ แต่ถ้าหากในอนาคตมีการผลิตหนังแนวนี้ออกมาเยอะๆ หรือมีอะไรอย่างนี้ให้เราได้ดูเป็นประจำทางทีวีหลังข่าว เราก็อาจจะชอบหนังแนวนี้น้อยลงก็ได้ แต่ ณ ปัจจุบันนี้ เรายังคงชอบหนังเรื่องนี้อย่างสุดๆอยู่ เพราะ "ความแตกต่าง" จากสิ่งอื่นๆที่เราพบเห็นเป็นประจำในสื่อ
การที่หนังเรื่องนี้ไม่มีเนื้อเรื่อง ก็ทำให้เราอินกับมันได้ง่ายขึ้นด้วย ซึ่งสิ่งนี้จะแตกต่างจาก "มิวสิควิดีโอเพลงลูกทุ่ง" เพราะการที่เพลงลูกทุ่งมีเนื้อเพลง แต่เราไม่ค่อยมีอารมณ์ร่วมไปกับเนื้อเพลงดังกล่าว ก็เลยทำให้เราไม่ได้มีความสุขไปกับการดูมิวสิควิดีโอเพลงลูกทุ่ง แต่เราสามารถมีอารมณ์ร่วมได้ในระดับนึงกับการใช้ชีวิตในวังยื่นหาบ
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
POLL 46: MUSICAL FILMS FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
POLL 46: MUSICAL FILMS FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
My poll 46 is inspired by ONE NIGHT ONE LIFE, a German opera film which I just saw last month and love. I don't understand the words sung in this film at all, though it has English subtitles. But the inability to understand the words or the lyrics is not an obstacle at all to enjoy this weird film. This film also confirms to me that I seem to particularly like German (and West German) musical/opera films, which include MOSES AND AARON, THE DEATH OF MARIA MALIBRAN (1972, Werner Schroeter), LINE 1 (1988, Reinhard Hauff), and PARSIFAL (1982, Hans-Juergen Syberberg).
I haven't seen a lot of classic musical films. Musical films seem to be a film genre which I'm not really interested in. I haven't seen even SINGING IN THE RAIN or any films by Busby Berkeley. I think I'm not ready to make a poll about favorite musicals yet.
But apart from German musicals, I think I also like many current musical films, such as JEANNE AND THE PERFECT GUY, and THE ADVENTURES OF IRON PUSSY. So I think for now I should make a poll about some musical films from different countries, because they may be different from each other and it may be fun to compare them.
Some films in the list below may not be real musical films. Some of them are opera films. Some of them only have some musical-like moments. I just include them all together.
THESE MUSICAL FILMS ARE MADE FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. WHICH ONES DO YOU LIKE?
1.AI TUI (ไอ้ทุย) (1971, Dokdin Gunyamarn, Thailand)
2.AMY (1997, Nadia Tass, Australia)
3.CHUNHYANG (2000, Im Kwon-taek, South Korea)
4.DANCER IN THE DARK (2000, Lars von Trier, Denmark)
5.DIXIELAND DAIMYO (1986, Kihachi Okamoto, Japan)
6.KINGDOM AND THE BEAUTY (1959, Li Han Hsiang, Hong Kong)
7.THE LAST COMMUNIST (2006, Amir Muhammad, Malaysia)
8.THE LINE, THE CROSS & THE CURVE (1994, Kate Bush, UK)
9.LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (1986, Frank Oz, USA)
10.MOSES AND AARON (1975, Daniele Huillet + Jean-Marie Straub, West Germany)
11.ONE NIGHT ONE LIFE (1999, Oliver Hermann, Germany)
12.RED PSALM (1972, Miklos Jancso, Hungary)
13.SAATHIYA (2002, Shaad Ali, India)
14.THE SADDEST MUSIC IN THE WORLD (2003, Guy Maddin, Canada)
15.SILENCE, WE'RE ROLLING (2001,Youssef Chahine, Egypt)
16.U-CARMEN E-KHAYELITSHA (2005, Mark Dornford-May, South Africa)
17.UP DOWN FRAGILE (1995, Jacques Rivette, France)
18.THE WAYWARD CLOUD (2005, Tsai Ming-liang, Taiwan)
19.WINDOW SHOPPING (1986, Chantal Akerman, Belgium/France)
20.YES NURSE! NO NURSE! (2002, Pieter Kramer, Netherlands)
You can cast multiple votes.
--I haven't seen OPERA JAWA.
My poll 46 is inspired by ONE NIGHT ONE LIFE, a German opera film which I just saw last month and love. I don't understand the words sung in this film at all, though it has English subtitles. But the inability to understand the words or the lyrics is not an obstacle at all to enjoy this weird film. This film also confirms to me that I seem to particularly like German (and West German) musical/opera films, which include MOSES AND AARON, THE DEATH OF MARIA MALIBRAN (1972, Werner Schroeter), LINE 1 (1988, Reinhard Hauff), and PARSIFAL (1982, Hans-Juergen Syberberg).
I haven't seen a lot of classic musical films. Musical films seem to be a film genre which I'm not really interested in. I haven't seen even SINGING IN THE RAIN or any films by Busby Berkeley. I think I'm not ready to make a poll about favorite musicals yet.
But apart from German musicals, I think I also like many current musical films, such as JEANNE AND THE PERFECT GUY, and THE ADVENTURES OF IRON PUSSY. So I think for now I should make a poll about some musical films from different countries, because they may be different from each other and it may be fun to compare them.
Some films in the list below may not be real musical films. Some of them are opera films. Some of them only have some musical-like moments. I just include them all together.
THESE MUSICAL FILMS ARE MADE FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. WHICH ONES DO YOU LIKE?
1.AI TUI (ไอ้ทุย) (1971, Dokdin Gunyamarn, Thailand)
2.AMY (1997, Nadia Tass, Australia)
3.CHUNHYANG (2000, Im Kwon-taek, South Korea)
4.DANCER IN THE DARK (2000, Lars von Trier, Denmark)
5.DIXIELAND DAIMYO (1986, Kihachi Okamoto, Japan)
6.KINGDOM AND THE BEAUTY (1959, Li Han Hsiang, Hong Kong)
7.THE LAST COMMUNIST (2006, Amir Muhammad, Malaysia)
8.THE LINE, THE CROSS & THE CURVE (1994, Kate Bush, UK)
9.LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (1986, Frank Oz, USA)
10.MOSES AND AARON (1975, Daniele Huillet + Jean-Marie Straub, West Germany)
11.ONE NIGHT ONE LIFE (1999, Oliver Hermann, Germany)
12.RED PSALM (1972, Miklos Jancso, Hungary)
13.SAATHIYA (2002, Shaad Ali, India)
14.THE SADDEST MUSIC IN THE WORLD (2003, Guy Maddin, Canada)
15.SILENCE, WE'RE ROLLING (2001,Youssef Chahine, Egypt)
16.U-CARMEN E-KHAYELITSHA (2005, Mark Dornford-May, South Africa)
17.UP DOWN FRAGILE (1995, Jacques Rivette, France)
18.THE WAYWARD CLOUD (2005, Tsai Ming-liang, Taiwan)
19.WINDOW SHOPPING (1986, Chantal Akerman, Belgium/France)
20.YES NURSE! NO NURSE! (2002, Pieter Kramer, Netherlands)
You can cast multiple votes.
--I haven't seen OPERA JAWA.
BALTHAZAR, 4 MONTHS, NO COUNTRY ARE THE WINNERS
My poll 45 ended with 11 votes. Thanks very much to everyone who participated in it. Here is the result:
SOMETHING IMPORTANT HAPPENS OFFSCREEN OR ISN’T SHOWN IN THESE FILMS. WHICH FILMS DO YOU LIKE?
1.AU HASARD BALTHAZAR (1966, Robert Bresson, France)
+4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS (2007, Cristian Mungiu, Romania)
+NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (2007, Joel Coen + Ethan Coen, USA)
Each of these films got 5 votes, or 45 %.
4.LORNA’S SILENCE (2008, Jean-Pierre Dardenne + Luc Dardenne, Belgium)
It got 4 votes, or 36 %.
5.L’AVVENTURA (1960, Michelangelo Antonioni, Italy)
+LA BELLE NOISEUSE (1991, Jacques Rivette, France)
+THE HEADLESS WOMAN (2008, Lucrecia Martel, Argentina)
+SHARA (2003, Naomi Kawase, Japan)
Each of them got 3 votes, or 27 %.
9.BLISSFULLY YOURS (2002, Apichatpong, Weerasethakul, Thailand)
+CASA DE LAVA (1994, Pedro Costa, Portugal)
A SCENE AT THE SEA (1991, Takeshi Kitano, Japan)
Each of them got 2 votes, or 18 %.
12.EUROPA 2005 – 27 OCTOBER (2006, Jean-Marie Straub + Daniele Huillet, France)
+FALLEN (2005, Fred Kelemen, Latvia)
+5 x 2 (2004, Francois Ozon, France)
+FORGET ME (1994, Noemie Lvovsky, France)
+GHOSTS (2005, Christian Petzold, Germany)
+GLORIA (1999, Manuela Viegas,Portugal)
+LE MONDE VIVANT (2003, Eugene Green, France)
+SLOW MOTION (1980, Jean-Luc Godard, France)
Each of them got 1 vote, or 9 %
20.FACE, MASK (หน้า, หน้ากาก) (2008, Eakapojd Djangkijkul, Thailand)
It got 0 vote.
--Apart from 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS, AND 2 DAYS, other films in which the rape occur offscreen include FRIENDSHIP (2008, Right Brain Team, Thailand, B+ ). I think this part is told very well in this film, because it is not told directly. The viewers only see some vicious guys looking at the heroine. The voiceover of the heroine said, "I didn't reach the school." And the viewers knew that the heroine disappeared for many years before she dies of AIDS. Then the viewers realized by themselves that the heroine was raped, got HIV-infected, was ashamed and decided to disappear for many years. I think this event is one of the most important events in the film, but it is not told or shown directly at all. It is hard to find this kind of storytelling technique in Thai mainstream films.
I think FRIENDSHIP is not a great film, but what I like the most about it is this kind of unexpected ending. Before the last five minutes of this film, this film seems to be a romantic comedy, with a little drama. Then at the last five minutes, when all the secret is revealed indirectly, it turns out to be a really feel-bad film. I think it makes me feel nearly half as bad as THE MACABRE CASE OF PROMPIRAM (2003, Manop Udomdej, B+ ), though in the case of FRIENDSHIP, this violent event only occurs in the audience's imagination.
However, I guess the real intention of the filmmakers of FRIENDSHIP may be to make the viewers have more sympathy towards HIV patients, and I think FRIENDSHIP really achieves that purpose.
--There are two films in which the rape is shown indirectly—THE CRUEL EMBRACE (1987, Marion Hansel, Belgium, A+), in which the viewers see only some lights above the victim, and GROOVE ON A STANLEY KNIFE (1997, Beth Kotler + Tinge Krishnan, UK, A), in which the viewers see someone destroying a furniture instead (if I remember it correctly). I think it is interesting that this kind of technique is employed by female filmmakers, who may be more sensitive about how to represent this thing.
SOMETHING IMPORTANT HAPPENS OFFSCREEN OR ISN’T SHOWN IN THESE FILMS. WHICH FILMS DO YOU LIKE?
1.AU HASARD BALTHAZAR (1966, Robert Bresson, France)
+4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS (2007, Cristian Mungiu, Romania)
+NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (2007, Joel Coen + Ethan Coen, USA)
Each of these films got 5 votes, or 45 %.
4.LORNA’S SILENCE (2008, Jean-Pierre Dardenne + Luc Dardenne, Belgium)
It got 4 votes, or 36 %.
5.L’AVVENTURA (1960, Michelangelo Antonioni, Italy)
+LA BELLE NOISEUSE (1991, Jacques Rivette, France)
+THE HEADLESS WOMAN (2008, Lucrecia Martel, Argentina)
+SHARA (2003, Naomi Kawase, Japan)
Each of them got 3 votes, or 27 %.
9.BLISSFULLY YOURS (2002, Apichatpong, Weerasethakul, Thailand)
+CASA DE LAVA (1994, Pedro Costa, Portugal)
A SCENE AT THE SEA (1991, Takeshi Kitano, Japan)
Each of them got 2 votes, or 18 %.
12.EUROPA 2005 – 27 OCTOBER (2006, Jean-Marie Straub + Daniele Huillet, France)
+FALLEN (2005, Fred Kelemen, Latvia)
+5 x 2 (2004, Francois Ozon, France)
+FORGET ME (1994, Noemie Lvovsky, France)
+GHOSTS (2005, Christian Petzold, Germany)
+GLORIA (1999, Manuela Viegas,Portugal)
+LE MONDE VIVANT (2003, Eugene Green, France)
+SLOW MOTION (1980, Jean-Luc Godard, France)
Each of them got 1 vote, or 9 %
20.FACE, MASK (หน้า, หน้ากาก) (2008, Eakapojd Djangkijkul, Thailand)
It got 0 vote.
--Apart from 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS, AND 2 DAYS, other films in which the rape occur offscreen include FRIENDSHIP (2008, Right Brain Team, Thailand, B+ ). I think this part is told very well in this film, because it is not told directly. The viewers only see some vicious guys looking at the heroine. The voiceover of the heroine said, "I didn't reach the school." And the viewers knew that the heroine disappeared for many years before she dies of AIDS. Then the viewers realized by themselves that the heroine was raped, got HIV-infected, was ashamed and decided to disappear for many years. I think this event is one of the most important events in the film, but it is not told or shown directly at all. It is hard to find this kind of storytelling technique in Thai mainstream films.
I think FRIENDSHIP is not a great film, but what I like the most about it is this kind of unexpected ending. Before the last five minutes of this film, this film seems to be a romantic comedy, with a little drama. Then at the last five minutes, when all the secret is revealed indirectly, it turns out to be a really feel-bad film. I think it makes me feel nearly half as bad as THE MACABRE CASE OF PROMPIRAM (2003, Manop Udomdej, B+ ), though in the case of FRIENDSHIP, this violent event only occurs in the audience's imagination.
However, I guess the real intention of the filmmakers of FRIENDSHIP may be to make the viewers have more sympathy towards HIV patients, and I think FRIENDSHIP really achieves that purpose.
--There are two films in which the rape is shown indirectly—THE CRUEL EMBRACE (1987, Marion Hansel, Belgium, A+), in which the viewers see only some lights above the victim, and GROOVE ON A STANLEY KNIFE (1997, Beth Kotler + Tinge Krishnan, UK, A), in which the viewers see someone destroying a furniture instead (if I remember it correctly). I think it is interesting that this kind of technique is employed by female filmmakers, who may be more sensitive about how to represent this thing.
FAVORITE THINGS IN JAN 2009
FAVORITE THINGS IN JANUARY 2009
1.Favorite Film
LE MONDE VIVANT (2003, Eugene Green, France)
2.Favorite short film
ONE NIGHT ONE LIFE (1999, Oliver Hermann, Germany)
3.Favorite documentary
POOL OF PRINCESSES (2007, Bettina Blummer, Germany)
4.Favorite animation
THE LAST PHASES OF FUTURE (2007, Bu Hua, China)
You can watch many animations of Bu Hua here:
http://www.buhua.com/flash.html
I just watched THE SICK CITY (2005, Bu Hua) and love it.
http://flash.tom.com/flash_show.php?user=flash_buhua&id=47962
5.Favorite video installation
MOVING CAMERAS—OCTOBER 27 (2008, Prateep Suthathongthai, Thailand)
6.Favorite art/exhibition
HOLLYWOOD MECCA GAME (2009, Sonthaya Subyen, installation)
http://celinejulie.blogspot.com/2009/01/funny-game-in-thirteenth-year-of-dk.html
7.Favorite stage play
FRIEND (2009, Ninart Boonpothong)
FRIEND is still showing. You can read about its schedule here:
http://www.pantip.com/cafe/chalermkrung/topic/C7450587/C7450587.html
8.Favorite song
WON'T YOU OPEN UP YOUR SENSES – 4 Hero/Horace Silver
I like the female version of this song, which is included in the album BLUE NOTE REVISITED, but I can't find it in youtube. I only find the male version of this song here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOFoYg7BWVo
9.Favorite actress
Wanusnun Sasom in FRIEND
10.Desirable actor
Oleg Strizhenov in THE FORTY-FIRST (1956, Grigori Chukhraj, Soviet Union)
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0830580/
11.Favorite model
Kasem Promdontree in Stage Magazine Vol.30
http://www.magazinedee.com/main/magall.php?mag=4973
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3456/3250762344_5da3e12978_o.jpg
FILMS MADE FOR A SINGLE VIEWING?
This is my comment in Girish Shambu's blog:
http://www.girishshambu.com/blog/2009/01/favorite-cinema-discoveries-in-08.html
--Miguel, I really want to read your full list of 2008. I hope you will publish it soon.
--Andre Dias' phrase "films made for a single viewing" intrigues me. I think there are some certain films which I love but I don't want to watch them again soon. I think about THE CHEST TO BEQUEATH (2007, Ly Hoang Ly, Vietnamese video installation) and YOU HAVE TO WAIT ANYWAY (2007, Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, 22-minute Thai film). In THE CHEST TO BEQUEATH, you watch fake and real roses congealing in a chest for about 40 minutes. Most of this beautiful video is literally like watching paint dry. In YOU HAVE TO WAIT ANYWAY, you watch a girl for 22 minutes in a nearly empty landscape in extreme long shot. Nothing happens. There's no story, no obvious aestheticization of the image, almost no camera movement, and no hidden information. It is like a mockery on a kind of arthouse films. Though I was not bored watching the filmed sky during my first viewing of this film, I think I prefer not to repeat this experience soon. This is partly because I doubt if the filmmaker really loves his image in this film or not, or if he just wants to make fun of it or has fun forcing the audience to watch it for a long time. My doubt about the filmmaker's intention is the main reason why I react to this film very differently from, say, the last scene of NEWS FROM HOME (1977, Chantal Akerman), or from NO ONE AT THE SEA. (2005, Tossapol Boonsinsukh), which also presents a nearly empty view. I think YOU HAVE TO WAIT ANYWAY is like a conceptual film. Once you, the viewers, assume that you understand the concept of the film, you are not sure what more you can get from the film if you watch it for the second time. But NO ONE AT THE SEA is not a conceptual film. It is a film of feelings.
Actually, I watched the early scenes of THE CHEST TO BEQUEATH for the second time, because I wanted to observe how the fake and real roses were shown to be different in the early scenes of this video.
Information about YOU HAVE TO WAIT ANYWAY:
http://www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com/en/IFFR-2009/programme-schedule/film.aspx?ID=63a85f86-a0a5-45a9-97b8-f03749a23c7a
You can watch NO ONE AT THE SEA here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vB7yCQURj8
http://www.girishshambu.com/blog/2009/01/favorite-cinema-discoveries-in-08.html
--Miguel, I really want to read your full list of 2008. I hope you will publish it soon.
--Andre Dias' phrase "films made for a single viewing" intrigues me. I think there are some certain films which I love but I don't want to watch them again soon. I think about THE CHEST TO BEQUEATH (2007, Ly Hoang Ly, Vietnamese video installation) and YOU HAVE TO WAIT ANYWAY (2007, Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, 22-minute Thai film). In THE CHEST TO BEQUEATH, you watch fake and real roses congealing in a chest for about 40 minutes. Most of this beautiful video is literally like watching paint dry. In YOU HAVE TO WAIT ANYWAY, you watch a girl for 22 minutes in a nearly empty landscape in extreme long shot. Nothing happens. There's no story, no obvious aestheticization of the image, almost no camera movement, and no hidden information. It is like a mockery on a kind of arthouse films. Though I was not bored watching the filmed sky during my first viewing of this film, I think I prefer not to repeat this experience soon. This is partly because I doubt if the filmmaker really loves his image in this film or not, or if he just wants to make fun of it or has fun forcing the audience to watch it for a long time. My doubt about the filmmaker's intention is the main reason why I react to this film very differently from, say, the last scene of NEWS FROM HOME (1977, Chantal Akerman), or from NO ONE AT THE SEA. (2005, Tossapol Boonsinsukh), which also presents a nearly empty view. I think YOU HAVE TO WAIT ANYWAY is like a conceptual film. Once you, the viewers, assume that you understand the concept of the film, you are not sure what more you can get from the film if you watch it for the second time. But NO ONE AT THE SEA is not a conceptual film. It is a film of feelings.
Actually, I watched the early scenes of THE CHEST TO BEQUEATH for the second time, because I wanted to observe how the fake and real roses were shown to be different in the early scenes of this video.
Information about YOU HAVE TO WAIT ANYWAY:
http://www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com/en/IFFR-2009/programme-schedule/film.aspx?ID=63a85f86-a0a5-45a9-97b8-f03749a23c7a
You can watch NO ONE AT THE SEA here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vB7yCQURj8
SO MANY FILMS AND STAGE PLAYS THIS WEEKEND
The exhibition THE THIRTEENTH ANNIVERSARY OF D.K. FILMHOUSE (FILMVIRUS) will show some films on February 5-7. This exhibition is held at Jamjuree Art Gallery near Mahboonkrong Center. You can see its map here.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3122/3244361014_8df8992be7_o.jpg
On Thursday, Feb 5, documentaries about these filmmakers will be shown from 1300 hrs:
(I copied the program from Twilight Virus’ blog:
http://twilightvirus.blogspot.com/2009/02/filmvirus-masterclasses.html )
1.Agnes Varda (15 min)
2.Chantal Akerman (57 min)
3.Claire Denis (50 min)
4.Jacques Doillon (50 min)
5.Herbert Achternbusch meets Aki Kaurismaki (13 min)
Then, some films will be shown, which include:
6.CINEMA DREAM, TOKYO DREAM (Kiju Yoshida, 52 min)
7.ROOM: FIELD (2006, Tossapol Boonsinsukh, 10 min)
8. i i and us (2006, Rin Namasondhi + Setthapong Kumsin)
9.CLIP (PEG) (2006, Sukalya Pagang + Suwisal Kwanthongchoom + Jakrapat Promsing)
On Friday and Saturday, some Thai short films selected by Filmsick and me will be shown. I think some of these films don't have English subtitles. The program is as follows:
Friday, February 6
1300-1700 hrs
1.DISEASES AND A HUNDRED YEAR PERIOD (2008, Sompot Chidgasornpongse, 20 min)
โรคร้ายในรอบหนึ่งร้อยปี (สมพจน์ ชิตเกษรพงษ์ /2008/ไทย)20 นาที
This film is partly about the censorship of SYNDROMES AND A CENTURY.
2.HONGSA'S SCHOOL BAG (2008, Supamok Silaruk, 23 min)
กระเป๋านักเรียนของหงสา (ศุภโมกข์ ศิลารักษ์) 23นาที
Previous films of Supamok include VIOLET BASIL (2004) and THE SONGS OF EH DOH SHI (2007).
3. AN ORDINARY STORY (DIRECTOR'S CUT) (2007, Meathus Sirinawin, 23 min)
เรื่องธรรมดา DIRECTOR'S CUT (2007, เมธัส ศิรินาวิน) 23 นาที
This is a documentary about a male university student. The subject of this film was not aware that he was shot during the shooting of this film.
4.TWO STORIES ABOUT DHARMA (2008, Natchanon Jitweerapat + Isara Konlum, 20 min)
ธรรมะสองเรื่องควบ (ณัฐชนน จิตวีรภัทร , อิสระ คลล้ำ /2008 /ไทย) 20 นาที
This is the cult film of the year 2008.
5.FRAGRANCE OF THE WIND (GLIN SAIL OM) (2007, Chaiwat Wiansantia, 26 min)
กลิ่นสายลม(ชัยวัฒน์ เวียนสันเทียะ) 26 นาที
6.WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER (2007, Phuttiphong Aroonpheng, 57 min)
WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER (2007, พุทธิพงษ์ อรุณเพ็ง) 57 นาที
In this documentary shot in Japan, person A talks about his friend B, then B talks about C, then C talks about D, and so on.
7.WAY TO BLUE (Supawadee Sripoothorn, 30 min)
WAY TO BLUE (สุภาวดี ศรีภูธร) 30 นาที
8.ENDLESS RHYME (2008, Thanatchai Bundasak, 26 min)
วัฏคีตา (ENDLESS RHYME ) (ธณัชชัย บรรดาศักดิ์ / 2008/ไทย)26 นาที
The program for Saturday, Feb 7 is as follows:
12.30-1700 hrs
1.HASAN (2008, Attapon Pamakho, 29 min)
ฮะซัน(อรรถพล ปะมะโข /2008) 29 นาที
This is one of the most romantic gay films I have ever seen. It stars Supasawat Buranawej and Pavinee Samakkabutr, who are ones of the leading actors in current Thai theatre scenes.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3154/2613435824_b7f50db892_o.jpg
2. DEAD SNACK (2008, Pichanund Laohapornsvan, 8 min)
ขอขบเคี้ยวสักนิดก็ยังดี (พิชชานันท์ เลาหะพรสวรรค์) 8 นาที
This is a very funny Thai zombie film.
3.THE DAY I LEAVE THE CLASSROOM (2008, Witchuta Watjanarat, 18 min)
ภาพเคลื่อนไหว (วิชชุตา วัจนะรัตน์) 18 นาที
This film shows the problem of film studies in Thai universities.
4.FAMILY (2008, Komsunt Boonyavit, 13 min)
เด็กมีปัญหา (2008, คมสันต์ บุญญะวิตร) 13 นาที
5.WANG YUEN HAB (2008, Sompong Soda, 35 min)
วังยื่นหาบ (2008,สมพงษ์ โสดา)35นาที
This film shows Thai rural life in the way I rarely see. It feels really earthy in this film. I think it may be interesting to compare and contrast the ways Thai rural life are shown in contemporary films by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Uruphong Raksasad, Boonsong Nakphoo, Comjak Thongjib, Chaiwat Wiansantia, and Sompong Soda.
6.TRACK 01 TAKE 30 (2008, Thakoon Khempunya, 17 min)
เมื่อผมแต่งเพลงรัก (ฐากูร เข็มปัญญา) 17 นาที
This is a self-reflexive film.
7.REAL (2008, Uhten Sririwi, 15 min)
REAL (อุเทน ศรีริวิ) 15 นาที
This is a self-reflexive film.
8.PLOTTAPE (2007, Kitisak Khunpetch, 16 min)
PLOTTAPE (กิติศักดิ์ ขุนเพชร) 16 นาที
This is a self-reflexive film.
9.NEW GENERATION (2008, Pakwan Suksomthin, 16 min)
NEW GENERATION (เด็กโจ๋) (2008, พาขวัญ สุขสมถิ่น)16 นาที
10.THE…PROFICIENT (2008, Phumiphat Arayathanitkul, 26 min)
เออ...เองเก่ง (ภูมิพัฒน์ อารยะธนิตกุล) 26 นาที
This is a very lovely documentary.
11.PERFECT BALANCE? (2007, Parinya Junpengpen, 4 min)
Perfect Balance?(ปริญญา จันทร์เพ็งเพ็ญ) 4 นาที
12.STILL (2008, Wisarut Deelorm, 52 min)
STILL (2008, วิศรุต ดีล้อม) 52 นาที
13.REPEATING DRAMATIC (2008, Arpapun Plungsirisoontorn, 8 min)
REPEATING DRAMATIC (2008, อาภาพรรณ ปลั่งสิริสุนทร) 8นาที
This experimental film is one of my most favorite films dealing with Thai politics.
--However, I hope those of you who are planning to attend the film programs above plan everything well in advance, because there seem to be many events in Bangkok this weekend. So if you don’t plan well, you may scream out loud in frustration because you can't decide which events you should attend.
EVENTS THIS WEEKEND INCLUDE:
1.DUG DA:NS
4-5 Feb
1830
This is a stage play at "The Style by Toyota" Building in Siam Square.
2.SENIOR PROJECT
4-6, 10-13 Feb
1700+1900
This event comprises four stage plays by Mass Communication students in Chulalongkorn University. It is held at Tiam Chokewattana's auditorium.
http://www.pantip.com/cafe/chalermkrung/topic/C7465177/C7465177.html
3.MAHANAKORN 2009
6-8 Feb
Friday at 1930 . Saturday and Sunday at 1400 and 1930. The ticket price is 200 baht.
This is a stage play at Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre. I think I can't afford to miss this stage play. From its brochure, I understand that this stage play will star three of my most favorite Thai actresses of all time—Sumontha Suanpolrat, Pavinee Samakkabutr, and Panrut Kritcharnchai.
4.TUEN TUEK 2
6-8 Feb
This big-production stage play is held at M Theatre.
5.SUPERXELA
6-8 Feb
This event is held at Alliance Francaise.
http://www.dek-d.com/board/view.php?id=1223323
6.PLAY READING PROJECT
7-8 Feb
1500+1930 hrs at Crescent Moon Space
You can read more about this event here.
http://crescentmoonspace.blogspot.com/2009/02/blog-post_03.html
7.LUNATIC
7-8 Feb
18.30
This is a stage play at The Style by Toyota building in Siam Square.
8.Soviet Union films at Thammasat University
8 Feb
http://celinejulie.blogspot.com/2008/12/soviet-film-programs-at-thammasat.html
--Six films by Anocha Suwichakornpong will be shown on Friday, February 13, at William Warren library at 1900 hrs. You can read its details in Thai at:
http://thirdclasscitizen.exteen.com/20090129/third-class-cinema-012-a-date-with-anocha-suwichakornpong
I wish all of you enjoy as many of these events as possible.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3122/3244361014_8df8992be7_o.jpg
On Thursday, Feb 5, documentaries about these filmmakers will be shown from 1300 hrs:
(I copied the program from Twilight Virus’ blog:
http://twilightvirus.blogspot.com/2009/02/filmvirus-masterclasses.html )
1.Agnes Varda (15 min)
2.Chantal Akerman (57 min)
3.Claire Denis (50 min)
4.Jacques Doillon (50 min)
5.Herbert Achternbusch meets Aki Kaurismaki (13 min)
Then, some films will be shown, which include:
6.CINEMA DREAM, TOKYO DREAM (Kiju Yoshida, 52 min)
7.ROOM: FIELD (2006, Tossapol Boonsinsukh, 10 min)
8. i i and us (2006, Rin Namasondhi + Setthapong Kumsin)
9.CLIP (PEG) (2006, Sukalya Pagang + Suwisal Kwanthongchoom + Jakrapat Promsing)
On Friday and Saturday, some Thai short films selected by Filmsick and me will be shown. I think some of these films don't have English subtitles. The program is as follows:
Friday, February 6
1300-1700 hrs
1.DISEASES AND A HUNDRED YEAR PERIOD (2008, Sompot Chidgasornpongse, 20 min)
โรคร้ายในรอบหนึ่งร้อยปี (สมพจน์ ชิตเกษรพงษ์ /2008/ไทย)20 นาที
This film is partly about the censorship of SYNDROMES AND A CENTURY.
2.HONGSA'S SCHOOL BAG (2008, Supamok Silaruk, 23 min)
กระเป๋านักเรียนของหงสา (ศุภโมกข์ ศิลารักษ์) 23นาที
Previous films of Supamok include VIOLET BASIL (2004) and THE SONGS OF EH DOH SHI (2007).
3. AN ORDINARY STORY (DIRECTOR'S CUT) (2007, Meathus Sirinawin, 23 min)
เรื่องธรรมดา DIRECTOR'S CUT (2007, เมธัส ศิรินาวิน) 23 นาที
This is a documentary about a male university student. The subject of this film was not aware that he was shot during the shooting of this film.
4.TWO STORIES ABOUT DHARMA (2008, Natchanon Jitweerapat + Isara Konlum, 20 min)
ธรรมะสองเรื่องควบ (ณัฐชนน จิตวีรภัทร , อิสระ คลล้ำ /2008 /ไทย) 20 นาที
This is the cult film of the year 2008.
5.FRAGRANCE OF THE WIND (GLIN SAIL OM) (2007, Chaiwat Wiansantia, 26 min)
กลิ่นสายลม(ชัยวัฒน์ เวียนสันเทียะ) 26 นาที
6.WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER (2007, Phuttiphong Aroonpheng, 57 min)
WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER (2007, พุทธิพงษ์ อรุณเพ็ง) 57 นาที
In this documentary shot in Japan, person A talks about his friend B, then B talks about C, then C talks about D, and so on.
7.WAY TO BLUE (Supawadee Sripoothorn, 30 min)
WAY TO BLUE (สุภาวดี ศรีภูธร) 30 นาที
8.ENDLESS RHYME (2008, Thanatchai Bundasak, 26 min)
วัฏคีตา (ENDLESS RHYME ) (ธณัชชัย บรรดาศักดิ์ / 2008/ไทย)26 นาที
The program for Saturday, Feb 7 is as follows:
12.30-1700 hrs
1.HASAN (2008, Attapon Pamakho, 29 min)
ฮะซัน(อรรถพล ปะมะโข /2008) 29 นาที
This is one of the most romantic gay films I have ever seen. It stars Supasawat Buranawej and Pavinee Samakkabutr, who are ones of the leading actors in current Thai theatre scenes.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3154/2613435824_b7f50db892_o.jpg
2. DEAD SNACK (2008, Pichanund Laohapornsvan, 8 min)
ขอขบเคี้ยวสักนิดก็ยังดี (พิชชานันท์ เลาหะพรสวรรค์) 8 นาที
This is a very funny Thai zombie film.
3.THE DAY I LEAVE THE CLASSROOM (2008, Witchuta Watjanarat, 18 min)
ภาพเคลื่อนไหว (วิชชุตา วัจนะรัตน์) 18 นาที
This film shows the problem of film studies in Thai universities.
4.FAMILY (2008, Komsunt Boonyavit, 13 min)
เด็กมีปัญหา (2008, คมสันต์ บุญญะวิตร) 13 นาที
5.WANG YUEN HAB (2008, Sompong Soda, 35 min)
วังยื่นหาบ (2008,สมพงษ์ โสดา)35นาที
This film shows Thai rural life in the way I rarely see. It feels really earthy in this film. I think it may be interesting to compare and contrast the ways Thai rural life are shown in contemporary films by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Uruphong Raksasad, Boonsong Nakphoo, Comjak Thongjib, Chaiwat Wiansantia, and Sompong Soda.
6.TRACK 01 TAKE 30 (2008, Thakoon Khempunya, 17 min)
เมื่อผมแต่งเพลงรัก (ฐากูร เข็มปัญญา) 17 นาที
This is a self-reflexive film.
7.REAL (2008, Uhten Sririwi, 15 min)
REAL (อุเทน ศรีริวิ) 15 นาที
This is a self-reflexive film.
8.PLOTTAPE (2007, Kitisak Khunpetch, 16 min)
PLOTTAPE (กิติศักดิ์ ขุนเพชร) 16 นาที
This is a self-reflexive film.
9.NEW GENERATION (2008, Pakwan Suksomthin, 16 min)
NEW GENERATION (เด็กโจ๋) (2008, พาขวัญ สุขสมถิ่น)16 นาที
10.THE…PROFICIENT (2008, Phumiphat Arayathanitkul, 26 min)
เออ...เองเก่ง (ภูมิพัฒน์ อารยะธนิตกุล) 26 นาที
This is a very lovely documentary.
11.PERFECT BALANCE? (2007, Parinya Junpengpen, 4 min)
Perfect Balance?(ปริญญา จันทร์เพ็งเพ็ญ) 4 นาที
12.STILL (2008, Wisarut Deelorm, 52 min)
STILL (2008, วิศรุต ดีล้อม) 52 นาที
13.REPEATING DRAMATIC (2008, Arpapun Plungsirisoontorn, 8 min)
REPEATING DRAMATIC (2008, อาภาพรรณ ปลั่งสิริสุนทร) 8นาที
This experimental film is one of my most favorite films dealing with Thai politics.
--However, I hope those of you who are planning to attend the film programs above plan everything well in advance, because there seem to be many events in Bangkok this weekend. So if you don’t plan well, you may scream out loud in frustration because you can't decide which events you should attend.
EVENTS THIS WEEKEND INCLUDE:
1.DUG DA:NS
4-5 Feb
1830
This is a stage play at "The Style by Toyota" Building in Siam Square.
2.SENIOR PROJECT
4-6, 10-13 Feb
1700+1900
This event comprises four stage plays by Mass Communication students in Chulalongkorn University. It is held at Tiam Chokewattana's auditorium.
http://www.pantip.com/cafe/chalermkrung/topic/C7465177/C7465177.html
3.MAHANAKORN 2009
6-8 Feb
Friday at 1930 . Saturday and Sunday at 1400 and 1930. The ticket price is 200 baht.
This is a stage play at Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre. I think I can't afford to miss this stage play. From its brochure, I understand that this stage play will star three of my most favorite Thai actresses of all time—Sumontha Suanpolrat, Pavinee Samakkabutr, and Panrut Kritcharnchai.
4.TUEN TUEK 2
6-8 Feb
This big-production stage play is held at M Theatre.
5.SUPERXELA
6-8 Feb
This event is held at Alliance Francaise.
http://www.dek-d.com/board/view.php?id=1223323
6.PLAY READING PROJECT
7-8 Feb
1500+1930 hrs at Crescent Moon Space
You can read more about this event here.
http://crescentmoonspace.blogspot.com/2009/02/blog-post_03.html
7.LUNATIC
7-8 Feb
18.30
This is a stage play at The Style by Toyota building in Siam Square.
8.Soviet Union films at Thammasat University
8 Feb
http://celinejulie.blogspot.com/2008/12/soviet-film-programs-at-thammasat.html
--Six films by Anocha Suwichakornpong will be shown on Friday, February 13, at William Warren library at 1900 hrs. You can read its details in Thai at:
http://thirdclasscitizen.exteen.com/20090129/third-class-cinema-012-a-date-with-anocha-suwichakornpong
I wish all of you enjoy as many of these events as possible.
Friday, January 30, 2009
SEE THAI SHORT FILMS SELECTED BY FILMSICK AND ME
--THE AUTEUR’S NOTEBOOK has a great roundtable discussion by Andrew Grant, Kevin Lee, Edwin Mak, Harrytuttle, Nitesh Rohit, and Alexis Tioseco. You can read it at:
http://www.theauteurs.com/notebook/posts
--Konmongnang left some interesting comments in Thai here:
http://celinejulie.blogspot.com/2009/01/some-favorite-hong-kong-tv-series.html
--The exhibition THE THIRTEENTH ANNIVERSARY OF D.K. FILMHOUSE (FILMVIRUS) will be extended to February 12. The exhibition is held at Jamjuree Art Gallery.
On February 6 and 7, some Thai short films will be shown in the exhibition. These short films are selected by Filmsick and me. The details in Thai can be read below:
โปรแกรมหนังสั้นหลากหลายสายพันธุ์คัดเลือกจากนักดูหนังระดับเจ้าแม่ Madeleine de Scudery (http://celinejulie.blogspot.com ) และ นักดูหนังบ้านนอก FILMSICK ( http://filmsick.exteen.com ) เป็นการเฉพาะกิจเพื่อร่วมเฉลิมฉลอง13ปี บนถนนลูกรังของดวงกมลฟิล์มเฮาส์ โดยมุ่งเน้นคัดสรรหนังสั้นนอกสายตาที่อาจถูกมองข้ามไปจากการหลั่งไหลท่วมท้นของจำนวนหนังสั้นอันมหาศาลที่ออกฉายในแต่ละปี
รอบเดียวครั้งเดียว สองวัน แปดชั่วโมงรวด ชวนคุณมาร่วมชมกันครับ!
6 -7 กุมภาพันธ์ นี้ ที่หอศิลป์จามจุรีตรงข้างมาบุญครองครับ
สอบถามเพิ่มเติมที่ http://dkfilmhouse.blogspot.com
6 กพ. 52 13.00- 17.00น.
โรคร้ายในรอบหนึ่งร้อยปี (สมพจน์ ชิตเกษรพงษ์ /2008/ไทย)20 นาที
กระเป๋านักเรียนของหงสา (ศุภโมกข์ ศิลารักษ์) 23นาที
เรื่องธรรมดา DIRECTOR'S CUT (2007, เมธัส ศิรินาวิน) 23 นาที
ธรรมะสองเรื่องควบ (ณัฐชนน จิตวีรภัทร , อิสระ คลล้ำ /2008 /ไทย) 20 นาที
กลิ่นสายลม(ชัยวัฒน์ เวียนสันเทียะ) 26 นาที
WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER (2007, พุทธิพงษ์ อรุณเพ็ง) 57 นาที
WAY TO BLUE (สุภาวดี ศรีภูธร) 30 นาที
วัฏคีตา (ENDLESS RHYME ) (ธณัชชัย บรรดาศักดิ์ / 2008/ไทย)26 นาที
7 กพ. 52 12.30 – 17.00 น.
ฮะซัน(อรรถพล ปะมะโข /2008) 29 นาที
ขอขบเคี้ยวสักนิดก็ยังดี (พิชชานันท์ เลาหะพรสวรรค์) 8 นาที
ภาพเคลื่อนไหว (วิชชุตา วัจนะรัตน์) 18 นาที
เด็กมีปัญหา (2008, คมสันต์ บุญญะวิตร) 13 นาที
วังยื่นหาบ (2008,สมพงษ์ โสดา)35นาที
เมื่อผมแต่งเพลงรัก (ฐากูร เข็มปัญญา) 17 นาที
REAL (อุเทน ศรีริวิ) 15 นาที
PLOTTAPE (กิติศักดิ์ ขุนเพชร) 16 นาที
NEW GENERATION (เด็กโจ๋) (2008, พาขวัญ สุขสมถิ่น)16 นาที
เออ...เองเก่ง (ภูมิพัฒน์ อารยะธนิตกุล) 26 นาที
Perfect Balance?(ปริญญา จันทร์เพ็งเพ็ญ) 4 นาที
STILL (2008, วิศรุต ดีล้อม) 52 นาที
REPEATING DRAMATIC (2008, อาภาพรรณ ปลั่งสิริสุนทร) 8นาที
http://www.theauteurs.com/notebook/posts
--Konmongnang left some interesting comments in Thai here:
http://celinejulie.blogspot.com/2009/01/some-favorite-hong-kong-tv-series.html
--The exhibition THE THIRTEENTH ANNIVERSARY OF D.K. FILMHOUSE (FILMVIRUS) will be extended to February 12. The exhibition is held at Jamjuree Art Gallery.
On February 6 and 7, some Thai short films will be shown in the exhibition. These short films are selected by Filmsick and me. The details in Thai can be read below:
โปรแกรมหนังสั้นหลากหลายสายพันธุ์คัดเลือกจากนักดูหนังระดับเจ้าแม่ Madeleine de Scudery (http://celinejulie.blogspot.com ) และ นักดูหนังบ้านนอก FILMSICK ( http://filmsick.exteen.com ) เป็นการเฉพาะกิจเพื่อร่วมเฉลิมฉลอง13ปี บนถนนลูกรังของดวงกมลฟิล์มเฮาส์ โดยมุ่งเน้นคัดสรรหนังสั้นนอกสายตาที่อาจถูกมองข้ามไปจากการหลั่งไหลท่วมท้นของจำนวนหนังสั้นอันมหาศาลที่ออกฉายในแต่ละปี
รอบเดียวครั้งเดียว สองวัน แปดชั่วโมงรวด ชวนคุณมาร่วมชมกันครับ!
6 -7 กุมภาพันธ์ นี้ ที่หอศิลป์จามจุรีตรงข้างมาบุญครองครับ
สอบถามเพิ่มเติมที่ http://dkfilmhouse.blogspot.com
6 กพ. 52 13.00- 17.00น.
โรคร้ายในรอบหนึ่งร้อยปี (สมพจน์ ชิตเกษรพงษ์ /2008/ไทย)20 นาที
กระเป๋านักเรียนของหงสา (ศุภโมกข์ ศิลารักษ์) 23นาที
เรื่องธรรมดา DIRECTOR'S CUT (2007, เมธัส ศิรินาวิน) 23 นาที
ธรรมะสองเรื่องควบ (ณัฐชนน จิตวีรภัทร , อิสระ คลล้ำ /2008 /ไทย) 20 นาที
กลิ่นสายลม(ชัยวัฒน์ เวียนสันเทียะ) 26 นาที
WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER (2007, พุทธิพงษ์ อรุณเพ็ง) 57 นาที
WAY TO BLUE (สุภาวดี ศรีภูธร) 30 นาที
วัฏคีตา (ENDLESS RHYME ) (ธณัชชัย บรรดาศักดิ์ / 2008/ไทย)26 นาที
7 กพ. 52 12.30 – 17.00 น.
ฮะซัน(อรรถพล ปะมะโข /2008) 29 นาที
ขอขบเคี้ยวสักนิดก็ยังดี (พิชชานันท์ เลาหะพรสวรรค์) 8 นาที
ภาพเคลื่อนไหว (วิชชุตา วัจนะรัตน์) 18 นาที
เด็กมีปัญหา (2008, คมสันต์ บุญญะวิตร) 13 นาที
วังยื่นหาบ (2008,สมพงษ์ โสดา)35นาที
เมื่อผมแต่งเพลงรัก (ฐากูร เข็มปัญญา) 17 นาที
REAL (อุเทน ศรีริวิ) 15 นาที
PLOTTAPE (กิติศักดิ์ ขุนเพชร) 16 นาที
NEW GENERATION (เด็กโจ๋) (2008, พาขวัญ สุขสมถิ่น)16 นาที
เออ...เองเก่ง (ภูมิพัฒน์ อารยะธนิตกุล) 26 นาที
Perfect Balance?(ปริญญา จันทร์เพ็งเพ็ญ) 4 นาที
STILL (2008, วิศรุต ดีล้อม) 52 นาที
REPEATING DRAMATIC (2008, อาภาพรรณ ปลั่งสิริสุนทร) 8นาที
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
FAVORITE YOUTUBE CHANNELS
FAVORITE YOUTUBE CHANNELS
I haven’t had time to watch (or listen to) many clips in these channels yet, but I think I should make a list of these channels, so that I can find these channels easily when I have time to watch (or listen to) them.
1.Alwa Ritsila + Komvish Zally
I just noticed that some of their videos run into some copyright problems about the soundtrack. :-(
http://www.youtube.com/user/madmadmaniv
2.ARM193
This channel has many clips of old Hong Kong TV series.
http://www.youtube.com/user/arm193
3.Deep House
This is the channel for a kind of dance music.
http://www.youtube.com/user/Sodeep92
4.Jennifer MacMillan
http://www.youtube.com/user/jenmacmill
5.Keren Cytter
http://www.youtube.com/user/rettomyc
6.Naanping
This channel has many old Thai TV series and films.
http://www.youtube.com/user/naanping
7.Noah Viernes
http://www.youtube.com/user/memoriescantwait
8.Tossapol Boonsinsukh
http://www.youtube.com/user/nangtoszlong
9.Wafaa Bilal
http://www.youtube.com/user/mewafaa
10.Wiwat Lertwiwatwongsa
http://www.youtube.com/user/FILMSICK
I haven’t had time to watch (or listen to) many clips in these channels yet, but I think I should make a list of these channels, so that I can find these channels easily when I have time to watch (or listen to) them.
1.Alwa Ritsila + Komvish Zally
I just noticed that some of their videos run into some copyright problems about the soundtrack. :-(
http://www.youtube.com/user/madmadmaniv
2.ARM193
This channel has many clips of old Hong Kong TV series.
http://www.youtube.com/user/arm193
3.Deep House
This is the channel for a kind of dance music.
http://www.youtube.com/user/Sodeep92
4.Jennifer MacMillan
http://www.youtube.com/user/jenmacmill
5.Keren Cytter
http://www.youtube.com/user/rettomyc
6.Naanping
This channel has many old Thai TV series and films.
http://www.youtube.com/user/naanping
7.Noah Viernes
http://www.youtube.com/user/memoriescantwait
8.Tossapol Boonsinsukh
http://www.youtube.com/user/nangtoszlong
9.Wafaa Bilal
http://www.youtube.com/user/mewafaa
10.Wiwat Lertwiwatwongsa
http://www.youtube.com/user/FILMSICK
LA RABIA IS IN ROBERT KOEHLER'S LIST OF 2008
--Andrews Little told me that you can watch an interesting documentary called PEACE, PROPAGANDA & THE PROMISED LAND (2004, Sut Jhally + Bathsheba Ratzkoff, USA, 80 min) for free at this website:
http://www.pppl.org/
--I like this Thai gay music video mockery very much. The boys in this clip are very cute. (Thanks to Sompot who told us about this clip.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWgxFWi86OE
INTERESTING LISTS
1.I danced with joy when I found that LA RABIA (Albertina Carri, Argentina) is in Robert Koehler’s best film list of 2008. NOW SHOWING (Raya Martin) and YEARS WHEN I WAS A CHILD OUTSIDE (John Torres) are also in Koehler’s list. You can read his list here:
http://filmjourney.weblogger.com/2009/01/15/robert-koehlers-best-of-2008/
2.Bill Mousoulis’ top ten list of 2008 has four films I have never heard of:
http://www.innersense.com.au/productions/writings/films08.html
3.Ed Howard’s list of 2008
http://seul-le-cinema.blogspot.com/2009/01/2008-year-end-wrap-up.html
4.Warin Nilsirisuk’s list of 2008 in Thai
http://riverdale-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/01/blog-post_09.html
5.ARTVIRUS’ list of 2008 in Thai
http://www.onopen.com/2009/editor-spaces/3475
http://www.pppl.org/
--I like this Thai gay music video mockery very much. The boys in this clip are very cute. (Thanks to Sompot who told us about this clip.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWgxFWi86OE
INTERESTING LISTS
1.I danced with joy when I found that LA RABIA (Albertina Carri, Argentina) is in Robert Koehler’s best film list of 2008. NOW SHOWING (Raya Martin) and YEARS WHEN I WAS A CHILD OUTSIDE (John Torres) are also in Koehler’s list. You can read his list here:
http://filmjourney.weblogger.com/2009/01/15/robert-koehlers-best-of-2008/
2.Bill Mousoulis’ top ten list of 2008 has four films I have never heard of:
http://www.innersense.com.au/productions/writings/films08.html
3.Ed Howard’s list of 2008
http://seul-le-cinema.blogspot.com/2009/01/2008-year-end-wrap-up.html
4.Warin Nilsirisuk’s list of 2008 in Thai
http://riverdale-dreams.blogspot.com/2009/01/blog-post_09.html
5.ARTVIRUS’ list of 2008 in Thai
http://www.onopen.com/2009/editor-spaces/3475
BONTOC EULOGY
This is my comment in Girish Shambu’s blog:
http://www.girishshambu.com/blog/2009/01/favorite-cinema-discoveries-in-08.html
Noel, I feel very glad to have a chance to see BONTOC EULOGY. I hadn’t heard anything about this film before I saw it in the Thai Short Film Festival. I guess Alexis Tioseco might be the one who choose to show this film in the festival.
I just read Oggs Cruz’s review of this film in his blog (http://oggsmoggs.blogspot.com/2009/01/bontoc-eulogy-1995.html ). It is a great review, and it made me realize that this film is a faux documentary (or maybe you can call it a hybrid between documentary and fiction), though I used to think of it as a real documentary. I think its hybridity is one of the main reasons why I love this film, because I can’t separate fact from fiction in this film. I find this mixing of fact and imagination quite fascinating. The well-researched information presented in this film, the rare archival footage, and the great imagination of the director help make the person who lived and died about a hundred years ago come to life again vividly in the audience’s imagination.
Apart from being an informative film, BONTOC EULOGY is also poignant. It doesn’t lack emotions. We don’t only “know” about the lives of those tribal Filipinos, but we also get to understand how they might have “felt” while living in the world fair. I also felt quite moved near the end of the film. I think this film would make a great double bill with THE HALFMOON FILES (2007, Phillip Sheffner, Germany), which is also a great documentary about some ethnic minorities in a foreign land who became the target of some anthropological surveys.
http://www.girishshambu.com/blog/2009/01/favorite-cinema-discoveries-in-08.html
Noel, I feel very glad to have a chance to see BONTOC EULOGY. I hadn’t heard anything about this film before I saw it in the Thai Short Film Festival. I guess Alexis Tioseco might be the one who choose to show this film in the festival.
I just read Oggs Cruz’s review of this film in his blog (http://oggsmoggs.blogspot.com/2009/01/bontoc-eulogy-1995.html ). It is a great review, and it made me realize that this film is a faux documentary (or maybe you can call it a hybrid between documentary and fiction), though I used to think of it as a real documentary. I think its hybridity is one of the main reasons why I love this film, because I can’t separate fact from fiction in this film. I find this mixing of fact and imagination quite fascinating. The well-researched information presented in this film, the rare archival footage, and the great imagination of the director help make the person who lived and died about a hundred years ago come to life again vividly in the audience’s imagination.
Apart from being an informative film, BONTOC EULOGY is also poignant. It doesn’t lack emotions. We don’t only “know” about the lives of those tribal Filipinos, but we also get to understand how they might have “felt” while living in the world fair. I also felt quite moved near the end of the film. I think this film would make a great double bill with THE HALFMOON FILES (2007, Phillip Sheffner, Germany), which is also a great documentary about some ethnic minorities in a foreign land who became the target of some anthropological surveys.
Friday, January 23, 2009
BOOK WISH LIST: NINE (Andrzej Stasiuk)
Thanks to Sonthaya Subyen who told me about this book.
This is an excerpt from the review of this book by Robert Buckeye:
http://www.wordswithoutborders.org/?lab=StasiukNineReview
“It is the blasted landscape the films of Bela Tarr, Fred Kelemen and Ilya Khrzhanovsky conditioned us to see. A vista the surrealist landscapes of Jan Saudek opened up. The grim, abandoned backwater of an Eastern Europe writhing under runaway capitalism. We have entered Tarkovsky’s Zone. Raskolnikov stalks the streets of St. Petersburg. The bicycle chain swings in the street. An eye is gouged out”
This is an excerpt from the review of this book by Robert Buckeye:
http://www.wordswithoutborders.org/?lab=StasiukNineReview
“It is the blasted landscape the films of Bela Tarr, Fred Kelemen and Ilya Khrzhanovsky conditioned us to see. A vista the surrealist landscapes of Jan Saudek opened up. The grim, abandoned backwater of an Eastern Europe writhing under runaway capitalism. We have entered Tarkovsky’s Zone. Raskolnikov stalks the streets of St. Petersburg. The bicycle chain swings in the street. An eye is gouged out”
SOME FAVORITE HONG KONG TV SERIES
I just found out that many opening titles of my favorite Hong Kong TV series had been uploaded into Youtube by ARM 193. You can watch his channel at
http://www.youtube.com/user/arm193
These are the title clips of my favorite Hong Kong TV series:
1.THE BLACK SABRE จอมดาบหิมะแดง (1989, A+++++++++++++++)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R5HnZOdQl0
2.THE GRAND CANAL ศึกลำน้ำเลือด (1987, A+++++++++++++++) starring Tony Leung Chiu Wai
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsFaZUMeNz4
3.THE NEW HEAVEN SWORD & THE DRAGON SABRE ดาบมังกรหยก (1986, A++++++++++) starring Tony Leung Chiu Wai
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbwZ1PbYx4U
4.THE RETURN OF THE CONDOR HEROES มังกรหยก 4 (1983, A++++++++++) starring Andy Lau
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jaBpwhWdW4
5.THE LAMP LORE โคมวิเศษเจ้าแม่หัวซาน (1986, A++++++++++) starring Simon Yam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R11YrhhZ8XM
6.THE RETURN OF LUK SIU PHUNG เล็กเซียวหงส์ (1986, A+++++)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea1eLg9tC24
7.THE DEMI-GOD & SEMI-DEVILS แปดเทพอสูรมังกรฟ้า (1982, A+++++)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k-9jJpz5X8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIltZaG9Q0I
8.REINCARNATED กระบี่ไร้เทียมทาน (1978, A+)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqEVuJfMTRM
DRAGON STRIKES (It is the sequel of REINCARNATED) ยอดยุทธจักรมังกรฟ้า (1979, A+)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkuF1ni97gM
9.TWO MOST HONORABLE KNIGHTS เดชเซียวฮื่อยี้ (1988, A+) starring Tony Leung Chiu Wai
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw9uMc17WfU
10.THE SAGA OF THE LOST KINGDOM อิทธิฤทธิ์เจ้ายุทธภพ (1988, A+)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrlH1Q-CHTg
--I like the theme song of this TV series very much:
GOD OF SABRE ฤทธิ์ดาบวงพระจันทร์ (1979)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJioLvqgVbg
http://www.youtube.com/user/arm193
These are the title clips of my favorite Hong Kong TV series:
1.THE BLACK SABRE จอมดาบหิมะแดง (1989, A+++++++++++++++)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R5HnZOdQl0
2.THE GRAND CANAL ศึกลำน้ำเลือด (1987, A+++++++++++++++) starring Tony Leung Chiu Wai
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsFaZUMeNz4
3.THE NEW HEAVEN SWORD & THE DRAGON SABRE ดาบมังกรหยก (1986, A++++++++++) starring Tony Leung Chiu Wai
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbwZ1PbYx4U
4.THE RETURN OF THE CONDOR HEROES มังกรหยก 4 (1983, A++++++++++) starring Andy Lau
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jaBpwhWdW4
5.THE LAMP LORE โคมวิเศษเจ้าแม่หัวซาน (1986, A++++++++++) starring Simon Yam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R11YrhhZ8XM
6.THE RETURN OF LUK SIU PHUNG เล็กเซียวหงส์ (1986, A+++++)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea1eLg9tC24
7.THE DEMI-GOD & SEMI-DEVILS แปดเทพอสูรมังกรฟ้า (1982, A+++++)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k-9jJpz5X8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIltZaG9Q0I
8.REINCARNATED กระบี่ไร้เทียมทาน (1978, A+)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqEVuJfMTRM
DRAGON STRIKES (It is the sequel of REINCARNATED) ยอดยุทธจักรมังกรฟ้า (1979, A+)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkuF1ni97gM
9.TWO MOST HONORABLE KNIGHTS เดชเซียวฮื่อยี้ (1988, A+) starring Tony Leung Chiu Wai
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw9uMc17WfU
10.THE SAGA OF THE LOST KINGDOM อิทธิฤทธิ์เจ้ายุทธภพ (1988, A+)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrlH1Q-CHTg
--I like the theme song of this TV series very much:
GOD OF SABRE ฤทธิ์ดาบวงพระจันทร์ (1979)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJioLvqgVbg
Thursday, January 22, 2009
FAVORITE OLD FILMS SEEN IN 2008
This is my comment in Girish Shambu’s blog:
http://www.girishshambu.com/blog/2009/01/favorite-cinema-discoveries-in-08.html
--Ryland, I have seen only two films by Jacques Doillon: THE CRYING WOMAN (1979) and LA PURITAINE (1986). I much prefer LA PURITAINE, because it is strange in the way it is mixing life and theatre. THE CRYING WOMAN is good, but I think it is just as good as many French films dealing with adultery and marital problems.
--My favorite old films seen in 2008:
1.MOSES AND AARON (1975, Jean-Marie Straub + Daniele Huillet)
I don’t think I should use the word “entertaining” with films by Straub+Huillet, but since my vocabulary knowledge is very limited, I have to say for now that I feel very entertained (maybe there is a better word?) or captivated by this opera/musical film, which is the opposite of what I feel for THE CHRONICLE OF ANNA MAGDALENA BACH and EUROPA 2005 – 27 OCTOBER. (I like these two films, too, though I have to try to focus my attention while watching these two.) I even think MOSES AND AARON entertains me or moves me much more than other opera films such as PARSIFAL (1982, Hans-Juergen Syberberg) and CARMEN (1984, Francesco Rosi).
2.JUBILEE (1977, Derek Jarman)
It is as outrageous as MADAME X: THE ABSOLUTE RULER (1978, Ulrike Ottinger).
3.HEART (1955, Kon Ichikawa)
I like the unintentionally homoerotic undertone of this film.
4.SARRAOUNIA (1986, Med Hondo, Burkina Faso)
5.SAMAR (1998, Shyam Benegal, India)
6.BOONTHING (1991, Hamer Salwala + Saipin Kulkanokwan + Orawan Ovathasarn, Thailand)
This is a very strange and memorable short film. I don’t understand anything in it at all.
7.BUNTOC EULOGY (1995, Marlon Fuentes, Philippines, documentary)
8.MOTHER (1963, Kaneto Shindo)
9.THE CREMATOR (1969, Juraj Herz, Czechoslovakia)
10.HAPPY END (1966, Oldrich Lipsky, Czechoslovakia)
This film tells its story backwards. Maybe there is nothing much in this film except its innovative way of storytelling, but if you like the narrative structure of MEMENTO or 5x2, maybe you can give this film a try.
--My favorite old horror/thriller films seen in 2008:
1.DEATH BED: THE BED THAT EATS (1977, George Barry, USA)
There is some strange charm in this film.
2.SHOCK TREATMENT (1973, Alain Jessua)
3.LET’S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH (1971, John Hancock)
4.RED QUEEN KILLS SEVEN TIMES (1972, Emilio P. Miraglia)
5.SPIDER BABY (1968, Jack Hill)
6.LET SLEEPING CORPSES LIE (1974, Jorge Grau)
7.I DRINK YOUR BLOOD (1970, David E. Durston)
8.CHILDREN SHOULDN’T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS (1972, Bob Clark)
9.DOLLS (1987, Stuart Gordon)
10.THE GHOST STORY OF YOTSUYA (1959, Nobuo Nakagawa)
Thanks to Filmsick for giving me many films in the list above. :-)
http://www.girishshambu.com/blog/2009/01/favorite-cinema-discoveries-in-08.html
--Ryland, I have seen only two films by Jacques Doillon: THE CRYING WOMAN (1979) and LA PURITAINE (1986). I much prefer LA PURITAINE, because it is strange in the way it is mixing life and theatre. THE CRYING WOMAN is good, but I think it is just as good as many French films dealing with adultery and marital problems.
--My favorite old films seen in 2008:
1.MOSES AND AARON (1975, Jean-Marie Straub + Daniele Huillet)
I don’t think I should use the word “entertaining” with films by Straub+Huillet, but since my vocabulary knowledge is very limited, I have to say for now that I feel very entertained (maybe there is a better word?) or captivated by this opera/musical film, which is the opposite of what I feel for THE CHRONICLE OF ANNA MAGDALENA BACH and EUROPA 2005 – 27 OCTOBER. (I like these two films, too, though I have to try to focus my attention while watching these two.) I even think MOSES AND AARON entertains me or moves me much more than other opera films such as PARSIFAL (1982, Hans-Juergen Syberberg) and CARMEN (1984, Francesco Rosi).
2.JUBILEE (1977, Derek Jarman)
It is as outrageous as MADAME X: THE ABSOLUTE RULER (1978, Ulrike Ottinger).
3.HEART (1955, Kon Ichikawa)
I like the unintentionally homoerotic undertone of this film.
4.SARRAOUNIA (1986, Med Hondo, Burkina Faso)
5.SAMAR (1998, Shyam Benegal, India)
6.BOONTHING (1991, Hamer Salwala + Saipin Kulkanokwan + Orawan Ovathasarn, Thailand)
This is a very strange and memorable short film. I don’t understand anything in it at all.
7.BUNTOC EULOGY (1995, Marlon Fuentes, Philippines, documentary)
8.MOTHER (1963, Kaneto Shindo)
9.THE CREMATOR (1969, Juraj Herz, Czechoslovakia)
10.HAPPY END (1966, Oldrich Lipsky, Czechoslovakia)
This film tells its story backwards. Maybe there is nothing much in this film except its innovative way of storytelling, but if you like the narrative structure of MEMENTO or 5x2, maybe you can give this film a try.
--My favorite old horror/thriller films seen in 2008:
1.DEATH BED: THE BED THAT EATS (1977, George Barry, USA)
There is some strange charm in this film.
2.SHOCK TREATMENT (1973, Alain Jessua)
3.LET’S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH (1971, John Hancock)
4.RED QUEEN KILLS SEVEN TIMES (1972, Emilio P. Miraglia)
5.SPIDER BABY (1968, Jack Hill)
6.LET SLEEPING CORPSES LIE (1974, Jorge Grau)
7.I DRINK YOUR BLOOD (1970, David E. Durston)
8.CHILDREN SHOULDN’T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS (1972, Bob Clark)
9.DOLLS (1987, Stuart Gordon)
10.THE GHOST STORY OF YOTSUYA (1959, Nobuo Nakagawa)
Thanks to Filmsick for giving me many films in the list above. :-)
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
POLL 45: OFFSCREEN
POLL 45: OFFSCREEN
My poll 45 is inspired by LE MONDE VIVANT, a strange film of which its most memorable images are the ones in which we see only the hands of the characters, not the bodies or the faces of the characters.
There is something happening offscreen in every film, because every film can’t show everything which happens around the lives of its characters or every moment of its characters. In most films, the sex scenes happen offscreen, but the porn films do the opposite.
The films I choose here and the ones in which something important happens offscreen, or something which should be shown in most films is not shown in these films.
SOMETHING IMPORTANT HAPPENS OFFSCREEN OR ISN’T SHOWN IN THESE FILMS. WHICH FILMS DO YOU LIKE?
1.AU HASARD BALTHAZAR (1966, Robert Bresson, France)
2.L’AVVENTURA (1960, Michelangelo Antonioni, Italy)
The cause of the disappearance of a character and her fate are never shown or explained.
3.LA BELLE NOISEUSE (1991, Jacques Rivette, France)
The important painting is shown to the characters, but not the audience of this film.
4.BLISSFULLY YOURS (2002, Apichatpong, Weerasethakul, Thailand)
A middle-aged guy is shot dead by some thieves in this film, but it happens offscreen. We only hear its noises. But his corpse turns up in the beginning of TROPICAL MALADY.
5.CASA DE LAVA (1994, Pedro Costa, Portugal)
I think the ending part of this film is so full of ellipses that I don’t understand anything any more.
You can read about CASA DE LAVA in The Evening Class’ blog here:
http://theeveningclass.blogspot.com/2008/03/pedro-costa-and-others-on-casa-de-lava.html
6.EUROPA 2005 – 27 OCTOBER (2006, Jean-Marie Straub + Daniele Huillet, France)
The death of the two teenagers happened before this film begins.
You can watch this film here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGU06JQ92lc
7.FACE, MASK (หน้า, หน้ากาก) (2008, Eakapojd Djangkijkul, Thailand)
I watched this short film only once, and I don’t understand it at all in the first viewing. I guess there’s a crime happening in this film, but I’m not sure which characters are the criminals and which are the victims. The crime scenes may be omitted from this film, may be not. We may see only what some characters do before and after the crimes.
8.FALLEN (2005, Fred Kelemen, Latvia)
The suicide of one or two characters happens offscreen.
9.5 x 2 (2004, Francois Ozon, France)
We are never sure about the causes of the break-up of this couple.
10.FORGET ME (1994, Noemie Lvovsky, France)
There’s a car accident scene in this film, but we see only the face of the heroine (Valeria Bruni Tedeschi), and are not quite sure how the accident looks like.
11.4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS (2007, Cristian Mungiu, Romania)
There are two rapes happening offscreen in this film. In fact, I think rape scenes are one of the most frequently omitted scenes in films, with understandable reasons.
12.GHOSTS (2005, Christian Petzold, Germany)
We never see or know if one of the heroines has that birthmark or not.
13.GLORIA (1999, Manuela Viegas,Portugal)
There are ellipses near the end of the film, and many viewers are not sure about what really happens.
14.THE HEADLESS WOMAN (2008, Lucrecia Martel, Argentina)
15.LORNA’S SILENCE (2008, Jean-Pierre Dardenne + Luc Dardenne, Belgium)
The murder of a character happens offscreen.
16.LE MONDE VIVANT (2003, Eugene Green, France)
17.NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (2007, Joel Coen + Ethan Coen, USA)
The murders of two important characters happen offscreen near the end of the film.
18.A SCENE AT THE SEA (1991, Takeshi Kitano, Japan)
19.SHARA (2003, Naomi Kawase, Japan)
I’m not sure what happens to the brother of the hero.
20.SLOW MOTION (1980, Jean-Luc Godard, France)
Marguerite Duras is offscreen in this film.
You can cast multiple votes.
My poll 45 is inspired by LE MONDE VIVANT, a strange film of which its most memorable images are the ones in which we see only the hands of the characters, not the bodies or the faces of the characters.
There is something happening offscreen in every film, because every film can’t show everything which happens around the lives of its characters or every moment of its characters. In most films, the sex scenes happen offscreen, but the porn films do the opposite.
The films I choose here and the ones in which something important happens offscreen, or something which should be shown in most films is not shown in these films.
SOMETHING IMPORTANT HAPPENS OFFSCREEN OR ISN’T SHOWN IN THESE FILMS. WHICH FILMS DO YOU LIKE?
1.AU HASARD BALTHAZAR (1966, Robert Bresson, France)
2.L’AVVENTURA (1960, Michelangelo Antonioni, Italy)
The cause of the disappearance of a character and her fate are never shown or explained.
3.LA BELLE NOISEUSE (1991, Jacques Rivette, France)
The important painting is shown to the characters, but not the audience of this film.
4.BLISSFULLY YOURS (2002, Apichatpong, Weerasethakul, Thailand)
A middle-aged guy is shot dead by some thieves in this film, but it happens offscreen. We only hear its noises. But his corpse turns up in the beginning of TROPICAL MALADY.
5.CASA DE LAVA (1994, Pedro Costa, Portugal)
I think the ending part of this film is so full of ellipses that I don’t understand anything any more.
You can read about CASA DE LAVA in The Evening Class’ blog here:
http://theeveningclass.blogspot.com/2008/03/pedro-costa-and-others-on-casa-de-lava.html
6.EUROPA 2005 – 27 OCTOBER (2006, Jean-Marie Straub + Daniele Huillet, France)
The death of the two teenagers happened before this film begins.
You can watch this film here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGU06JQ92lc
7.FACE, MASK (หน้า, หน้ากาก) (2008, Eakapojd Djangkijkul, Thailand)
I watched this short film only once, and I don’t understand it at all in the first viewing. I guess there’s a crime happening in this film, but I’m not sure which characters are the criminals and which are the victims. The crime scenes may be omitted from this film, may be not. We may see only what some characters do before and after the crimes.
8.FALLEN (2005, Fred Kelemen, Latvia)
The suicide of one or two characters happens offscreen.
9.5 x 2 (2004, Francois Ozon, France)
We are never sure about the causes of the break-up of this couple.
10.FORGET ME (1994, Noemie Lvovsky, France)
There’s a car accident scene in this film, but we see only the face of the heroine (Valeria Bruni Tedeschi), and are not quite sure how the accident looks like.
11.4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS (2007, Cristian Mungiu, Romania)
There are two rapes happening offscreen in this film. In fact, I think rape scenes are one of the most frequently omitted scenes in films, with understandable reasons.
12.GHOSTS (2005, Christian Petzold, Germany)
We never see or know if one of the heroines has that birthmark or not.
13.GLORIA (1999, Manuela Viegas,Portugal)
There are ellipses near the end of the film, and many viewers are not sure about what really happens.
14.THE HEADLESS WOMAN (2008, Lucrecia Martel, Argentina)
15.LORNA’S SILENCE (2008, Jean-Pierre Dardenne + Luc Dardenne, Belgium)
The murder of a character happens offscreen.
16.LE MONDE VIVANT (2003, Eugene Green, France)
17.NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (2007, Joel Coen + Ethan Coen, USA)
The murders of two important characters happen offscreen near the end of the film.
18.A SCENE AT THE SEA (1991, Takeshi Kitano, Japan)
19.SHARA (2003, Naomi Kawase, Japan)
I’m not sure what happens to the brother of the hero.
20.SLOW MOTION (1980, Jean-Luc Godard, France)
Marguerite Duras is offscreen in this film.
You can cast multiple votes.
SHAUN OF THE DEAD + 28 DAYS LATER ARE WINNERS
My poll 44 ended with 12 votes. Thanks very much to everyone who participated in it. Here is the result:
THESE FILMS ARE ABOUT ZOMBIES. WHICH FILMS DO YOU LIKE?
1.SHAUN OF THE DEAD (2004, Edgar Wright, UK)
+28 DAYS LATER...(2002, Danny Boyle, UK)
Each of these films got 6 votes, or 50 %.
3. DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978, George A. Romero, USA)
+LAND OF THE DEAD (2005, George A. Romero, USA)
Each of these films got 4 votes, or 33 %.
5.OTTO; OR UP WITH DEAD PEOPLE (2008, Bruce La Bruce, Germany/Canada)
+PLANET TERROR (2007, Robert Rodriguez, USA)
Each of these films got 3 votes, or 25 %.
7.DIARY OF THE DEAD (2007, George A. Romero, USA)
+HOMECOMING (2005, Joe Dante, USA)
+SARS WARS (2004, Taweewat Wantha, Thailand)
+28 WEEKS LATER (2007, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, Spain)
+ZOMBIE CHICK (อีสาวซากดิบ) (2007, Thitimon Mongkolsawat, Thailand)
Each of these films got 5 votes, or 16 %.
12.CHILDREN SHOULDN’T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS (1972, Bob Clark, USA)
+DEAD SNACK (ขอขบเคี้ยวสักนิดก็ยังดี) (2008, Pichanund Laohapornsvan, Thailand)
+GHOSTS OF MARS (2001, John Carpenter, USA)
+RESURRECTION (2008, Sorrawis Rawitiwagul + Harin Paesongthai, Thailand)
Each of these films got 1 vote, or 8 %.
16.I, ZOMBIE: THE CHRONICLES OF PAIN (1998, Andrew Parkinson, UK)
+LET SLEEPING CORPSES LIE (1974, Jorge Grau, Spain/Italy)
+PRINCE OF DARKNESS (1987, John Carpenter, USA)
+UNDEAD (2002, Peter Spierig + Michael Spierig, Australia)
+ZOMBIE SELF-DEFENSE FORCE (2005, Naoyuki Tomomatsu, Japan)
Each of these films got 0 vote.
If I were to face with zombies, I think I will do what the Amish guy do in DIARY OF THE DEAD—just committing suicide.
THESE FILMS ARE ABOUT ZOMBIES. WHICH FILMS DO YOU LIKE?
1.SHAUN OF THE DEAD (2004, Edgar Wright, UK)
+28 DAYS LATER...(2002, Danny Boyle, UK)
Each of these films got 6 votes, or 50 %.
3. DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978, George A. Romero, USA)
+LAND OF THE DEAD (2005, George A. Romero, USA)
Each of these films got 4 votes, or 33 %.
5.OTTO; OR UP WITH DEAD PEOPLE (2008, Bruce La Bruce, Germany/Canada)
+PLANET TERROR (2007, Robert Rodriguez, USA)
Each of these films got 3 votes, or 25 %.
7.DIARY OF THE DEAD (2007, George A. Romero, USA)
+HOMECOMING (2005, Joe Dante, USA)
+SARS WARS (2004, Taweewat Wantha, Thailand)
+28 WEEKS LATER (2007, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, Spain)
+ZOMBIE CHICK (อีสาวซากดิบ) (2007, Thitimon Mongkolsawat, Thailand)
Each of these films got 5 votes, or 16 %.
12.CHILDREN SHOULDN’T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS (1972, Bob Clark, USA)
+DEAD SNACK (ขอขบเคี้ยวสักนิดก็ยังดี) (2008, Pichanund Laohapornsvan, Thailand)
+GHOSTS OF MARS (2001, John Carpenter, USA)
+RESURRECTION (2008, Sorrawis Rawitiwagul + Harin Paesongthai, Thailand)
Each of these films got 1 vote, or 8 %.
16.I, ZOMBIE: THE CHRONICLES OF PAIN (1998, Andrew Parkinson, UK)
+LET SLEEPING CORPSES LIE (1974, Jorge Grau, Spain/Italy)
+PRINCE OF DARKNESS (1987, John Carpenter, USA)
+UNDEAD (2002, Peter Spierig + Michael Spierig, Australia)
+ZOMBIE SELF-DEFENSE FORCE (2005, Naoyuki Tomomatsu, Japan)
Each of these films got 0 vote.
If I were to face with zombies, I think I will do what the Amish guy do in DIARY OF THE DEAD—just committing suicide.
MERVEILLESXX'S TOP TEN FAVORITE FILMS OF 2008
Merveillesxx wrote about his top ten favorite films of 2008. He wrote the details in Thai, and you can read them in the link below:
http://www.bloggang.com/viewdiary.php?id=merveillesxx&month=01-2009&group=1&date=19&gblog=168
Merveillesxx’s top ten favorite films of 2008:
1.LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (2008, Tomas Alfredson, Sweden)
2.SUMMER HOURS (2008, Olivier Assayas, France)
3.THERE WILL BE BLOOD (2007, Paul Thomas Anderson, USA)
4.THE MIST (2007, Frank Darabont, USA)
5.A CHRISTMAS TALE (2008, Arnaud Desplechin, France)
6.VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA (2008, Woody Allen, Spain-USA)
7.IN THE CITY OF SYLVIA (2007, Jose Luis Guerin, Spain)
8.WALL E (2008, Andrew Stanton, USA)
9.WATER LILIES (2007, Celine Sciamma, France)
10.MODERN LIFE (2008, Raymond Depardon, France)
--I’m very glad that THE MIST and MODERN LIFE are in Merveillesxx’s list.
--Wise Kwai wrote about his favorite Thai films of 2008 here:
http://thaifilmjournal.blogspot.com/2009/01/top-10-thai-films-of-2008.html
--Zach Campbell wrote about his year’s end here:
http://elusivelucidity.blogspot.com/2008/12/years-end.html
http://www.bloggang.com/viewdiary.php?id=merveillesxx&month=01-2009&group=1&date=19&gblog=168
Merveillesxx’s top ten favorite films of 2008:
1.LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (2008, Tomas Alfredson, Sweden)
2.SUMMER HOURS (2008, Olivier Assayas, France)
3.THERE WILL BE BLOOD (2007, Paul Thomas Anderson, USA)
4.THE MIST (2007, Frank Darabont, USA)
5.A CHRISTMAS TALE (2008, Arnaud Desplechin, France)
6.VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA (2008, Woody Allen, Spain-USA)
7.IN THE CITY OF SYLVIA (2007, Jose Luis Guerin, Spain)
8.WALL E (2008, Andrew Stanton, USA)
9.WATER LILIES (2007, Celine Sciamma, France)
10.MODERN LIFE (2008, Raymond Depardon, France)
--I’m very glad that THE MIST and MODERN LIFE are in Merveillesxx’s list.
--Wise Kwai wrote about his favorite Thai films of 2008 here:
http://thaifilmjournal.blogspot.com/2009/01/top-10-thai-films-of-2008.html
--Zach Campbell wrote about his year’s end here:
http://elusivelucidity.blogspot.com/2008/12/years-end.html
"THUS SPOKE THE LORD TO VIKING EGGELING"
--Ninamori wrote in Thai about the exhibition “THE THIRTEENTH ANNIVERSARY OF D.K. FILMHOUSE (FILMVIRUS)” in her blog. She also posted some photos of the exhibition.
http://ninamori.blogspot.com/2009/01/13-13th-anniversary-dkfilmhouse.html
--I just found an essay by Jonas Mekas in Invisible Cinema’s blog. I like it very much, so I copied it here.:
http://invisiblecinema.typepad.com/invisible_cinema/2006/08/guest_blogger_j.html
Anti-100 years of cinema manifesto
by Jonas Mekas
"As you well know it was God who created this Earth and everything on it. And he thought it was all great. All painters and poets and musicians sang and celebrated the creation and that was all OK. But not for real. Something was missing. So about 100 years ago God decided to create the motion picture camera. And he did so. And then he created a filmmaker and said 'now here is an instrument called motion picture camera. Now go and film and celebrate the beauty of the creation and the dreams of human spirit, and have fun with it.'
But the devil did not like that. So he placed a money bag in front of the camera and said to the filmmakers 'why do you want to celebrate the beauty of the world and the spirit of it if you can make money with this instrument?' And, believe it or not, all filmmakers ran after the money bag. The Lord realized he had made a mistake. So some 25 years later, to correct his mistake, God created independent avant-garde filmmakers and said, 'here is the camera. Take it and go into the world and sing the beauty of all creation and have fun with it. But you will have a difficult time doing it, and you will never make any money with this instrument.'
Thus spoke the Lord to Viking Eggeling, Germaine Dulac, Jean Epstein, Fernand Leger, Dmitri Kirsanoff, Marcel Duchamp, Hans Richter, Luis Bunuel, Man Ray, Cavalcanti, Jean Cocteau, and Maya Deren, and Sidney Peterson, and Kenneth Anger, Gregory Markopoulos, Stan Brakhage, Marie Menken, Bruce Baillie, Francis Lee, Harry Smith and Jack Smith and Ken Jacobs, Ernie Gehr, Ron Rice, Michael Snow, Joseph Cornell, Peter Kubelka, Hollis Frampton and Barbara Rubin, Paul Sharits, Robert Beavers, Christopher McLain, and Kurt Kren, Robert Breer, Dore O, Isidore Isou, Antonio De Bernardi, Maurice Lemaitre, and Bruce Conner, and Klaus Wyborny, Boris Lehman, Bruce Elder, Taka Iimura, Abigail Child, Andrew Noren and too many others. Many others all over the world. And they took their Bolex's and their little 8 and Super-8 cameras and began filming the beauty of this world, and the complex adventures of the human spirit, and they're having great fun doing it. And the films bring no money and do not do what's called useful.
And the museums all over the world are celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of cinema, costing them millions of dollars the cinema makes, all going gaga about their Hollywoods. But there is no mention of the avant-garde or the independents of our cinema.
I have seen the brochures, the programs of the museums and archives and cinematheques around the world. But these say, "we don't care about your cinema." In the times of bigness, spectaculars, one hundred million movie productions, I want to speak for the small, invisible acts of human spirit, so subtle, so small, that they die when brought out under the clean lights. I want to celebrate the small forms of cinema, the lyrical form, the poem, the watercolor, etude, sketch, portrait, arabesque, and bagatelle, and little 8mm songs. In the times when everybody wants to succeed and sell, I want to celebrate those who embrace social and daily tailor to pursue the invisible, the personal things that bring no money and no bread and make no contemporary history, art history or any other history. I am for art which we do for each other, as friends.
I am standing in the middle of the information highway and laughing, because a butterfly on a little flower somewhere in China just fluttered its wings, and I know that the entire history, culture will drastically change because of that fluttering. A super-8 millimeter camera just made a little soft buzz somewhere, somewhere on the lower east side of New York, and the world will never be the same.
The real history of cinema is invisible history. History of friends getting together, doing the thing they love. For us, the cinema is beginning with every new buzz of the projector, with every new buzz of our cameras. With every new buzz of our cameras, our hearts jump forward my friends."
-Jonas Mekas, February 11, 1996, American Center, Paris
http://ninamori.blogspot.com/2009/01/13-13th-anniversary-dkfilmhouse.html
--I just found an essay by Jonas Mekas in Invisible Cinema’s blog. I like it very much, so I copied it here.:
http://invisiblecinema.typepad.com/invisible_cinema/2006/08/guest_blogger_j.html
Anti-100 years of cinema manifesto
by Jonas Mekas
"As you well know it was God who created this Earth and everything on it. And he thought it was all great. All painters and poets and musicians sang and celebrated the creation and that was all OK. But not for real. Something was missing. So about 100 years ago God decided to create the motion picture camera. And he did so. And then he created a filmmaker and said 'now here is an instrument called motion picture camera. Now go and film and celebrate the beauty of the creation and the dreams of human spirit, and have fun with it.'
But the devil did not like that. So he placed a money bag in front of the camera and said to the filmmakers 'why do you want to celebrate the beauty of the world and the spirit of it if you can make money with this instrument?' And, believe it or not, all filmmakers ran after the money bag. The Lord realized he had made a mistake. So some 25 years later, to correct his mistake, God created independent avant-garde filmmakers and said, 'here is the camera. Take it and go into the world and sing the beauty of all creation and have fun with it. But you will have a difficult time doing it, and you will never make any money with this instrument.'
Thus spoke the Lord to Viking Eggeling, Germaine Dulac, Jean Epstein, Fernand Leger, Dmitri Kirsanoff, Marcel Duchamp, Hans Richter, Luis Bunuel, Man Ray, Cavalcanti, Jean Cocteau, and Maya Deren, and Sidney Peterson, and Kenneth Anger, Gregory Markopoulos, Stan Brakhage, Marie Menken, Bruce Baillie, Francis Lee, Harry Smith and Jack Smith and Ken Jacobs, Ernie Gehr, Ron Rice, Michael Snow, Joseph Cornell, Peter Kubelka, Hollis Frampton and Barbara Rubin, Paul Sharits, Robert Beavers, Christopher McLain, and Kurt Kren, Robert Breer, Dore O, Isidore Isou, Antonio De Bernardi, Maurice Lemaitre, and Bruce Conner, and Klaus Wyborny, Boris Lehman, Bruce Elder, Taka Iimura, Abigail Child, Andrew Noren and too many others. Many others all over the world. And they took their Bolex's and their little 8 and Super-8 cameras and began filming the beauty of this world, and the complex adventures of the human spirit, and they're having great fun doing it. And the films bring no money and do not do what's called useful.
And the museums all over the world are celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of cinema, costing them millions of dollars the cinema makes, all going gaga about their Hollywoods. But there is no mention of the avant-garde or the independents of our cinema.
I have seen the brochures, the programs of the museums and archives and cinematheques around the world. But these say, "we don't care about your cinema." In the times of bigness, spectaculars, one hundred million movie productions, I want to speak for the small, invisible acts of human spirit, so subtle, so small, that they die when brought out under the clean lights. I want to celebrate the small forms of cinema, the lyrical form, the poem, the watercolor, etude, sketch, portrait, arabesque, and bagatelle, and little 8mm songs. In the times when everybody wants to succeed and sell, I want to celebrate those who embrace social and daily tailor to pursue the invisible, the personal things that bring no money and no bread and make no contemporary history, art history or any other history. I am for art which we do for each other, as friends.
I am standing in the middle of the information highway and laughing, because a butterfly on a little flower somewhere in China just fluttered its wings, and I know that the entire history, culture will drastically change because of that fluttering. A super-8 millimeter camera just made a little soft buzz somewhere, somewhere on the lower east side of New York, and the world will never be the same.
The real history of cinema is invisible history. History of friends getting together, doing the thing they love. For us, the cinema is beginning with every new buzz of the projector, with every new buzz of our cameras. With every new buzz of our cameras, our hearts jump forward my friends."
-Jonas Mekas, February 11, 1996, American Center, Paris
LISTENING (2008, Skarid Gunkhan, A+)
FAVORITE CLIPS
1.LISTENING (2008, Skarid Gunkhan, Thailand, A+)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf6Y7VDKVPg
Some parts of this short film come from Madonna’s music video, but I like this short film very much. It is very haunting.
2.Mariko Takahashi’s Fitness Video (directed by Nagi Noda)
Thanks to Andrews Little for telling me about it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UaW6zYQDQE
3.The title of DUANGTA SAWAN (THE EYES OF HEAVEN)
This is the title of DUANGTA SAWAN, an old Thai TV series starring Apiradee Pawaputanont. I didn’t watch this TV series, but I like the title song very much. The song is performed by Sunsanee Nakpong, who later became a speaker of Thaksin Shinawatra, an ex-prime minister of Thailand. Thanks to Art Nattavud for telling me about this title in Youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyWoD88jsSw
4.The title of SUNYAN LUANG (FALSE SIGNAL)
I love this TV series very much. It stars Apiradee Pawaputanont. It was shown on Channel 5 in 1995.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtSFaNbu810
1.LISTENING (2008, Skarid Gunkhan, Thailand, A+)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf6Y7VDKVPg
Some parts of this short film come from Madonna’s music video, but I like this short film very much. It is very haunting.
2.Mariko Takahashi’s Fitness Video (directed by Nagi Noda)
Thanks to Andrews Little for telling me about it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UaW6zYQDQE
3.The title of DUANGTA SAWAN (THE EYES OF HEAVEN)
This is the title of DUANGTA SAWAN, an old Thai TV series starring Apiradee Pawaputanont. I didn’t watch this TV series, but I like the title song very much. The song is performed by Sunsanee Nakpong, who later became a speaker of Thaksin Shinawatra, an ex-prime minister of Thailand. Thanks to Art Nattavud for telling me about this title in Youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyWoD88jsSw
4.The title of SUNYAN LUANG (FALSE SIGNAL)
I love this TV series very much. It stars Apiradee Pawaputanont. It was shown on Channel 5 in 1995.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtSFaNbu810
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