Showing 1 - 10 of 10
When literature becomes light
Life, Kong Rithdee, Published on 23/07/2018
» Haruki Murakami's books exert a strange pull that's earned him a devoted following around the world -- and Thailand is no exception. One foot planted in the reality of the modern world, the other trudging through a surreal dreamland as the ground beneath his characters' feet keeps shifting, Murakami entrances and confuses, lulls and hallucinates. His novels and short stories also occupy that exclusive territory in the literary world: he's a best-selling author who's also every bookmaker's favourite to win the Nobel Prize. He's also one of a few post-war Japanese writers whose style and substance transcend cultural and national boundaries.
Asean films receive special showcase
Life, Kong Rithdee, Published on 04/07/2018
» The riches of Southeast Asian stories and images are celebrated at the 4th Bangkok Asean Film Festival, which opens tonight at SF CentralWorld and runs until Sunday. Hosted by the Thai Ministry of Culture, this year's edition marks the 51st anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the regional body whose primary mission is economics and which increasingly pays more heed to cultural promotion.
The roles of a lifetime
Muse, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 09/09/2017
» 'I think I'd like to bring a cassette tape back," a tall figure next to me said as we were discussing what we would like to bring back from 1990s.
Colourful journey into Thailand's soul
Life, Kong Rithdee, Published on 20/01/2017
» The train clangs ahead, moving people and dreams, as it has done since 1893. In Railway Sleepers, a minutely observed film shot entirely on-board a Thai train, we see kids on school trips, young men travelling north and south, hawkers selling food and horoscope books, families and lovers, vacationers who turn the sleeping car into a party venue. They're passengers, and they're also humans. They are, as director Sompot Chidgasornpongse says, a collection of faces that make up a portrait of Thailand.
Small distributors screened out of exclusive reel estate
Spectrum, Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai, Published on 05/06/2016
» Film distributor Thida Plitpholkarnpim knows better than most the struggle to get independent films and documentaries into major cinema chains.
Global shares rally on fed set flat amid 4G frenzy
Business, Nuntawun Polkuamdee, Published on 21/12/2015
» Recap: Global stock markets moved sideways last week as sinking oil prices pushed down energy shares, and rebounded at the end of the week after the US Federal Reserve ended months of uncertainty by raising its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points for the first time in nine years. Thai stocks were little changed despite sinking on Friday, pulled down by telecoms as prices for 4G licences headed for a world record.
Set sheds another 2.2% as Asian sentiment subdued
Business, Published on 07/12/2015
» Recap: Asian stocks retreated last week, weighed down by negative factors including downbeat Chinese factory data, signals from Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen that an interest-rate increase this month is all but certain, and the smaller-than-expected scale of new stimulus by the European Central Bank. In Thailand, rumours in social media that the European Union (EU) had imposed sanctions against the country triggered panic selling.
Chinese share plunge and fed keep traders on edge
Business, Published on 03/08/2015
» Recap: Another plunge in Chinese stocks and a growing belief that the US will start raising interest rates in September pushed down global bourses before a recovery late in the week. Asian currencies also sank against the greenback with the Thai baht slipping below 35 to a 14-year low. The SET fell close to 1,400 before a rally led by buying of blue chips that had become bargains.
The big picture: prizes vs popularity
Life, Kong Rithdee, Published on 06/03/2015
» When Birdman won Best Picture at the Academy Awards last week, a New York Times headline read: "Oscars show growing gap between moviegoers and Academy", referring to the fact that a small, semi-art-house film that wasn't seen by many people received the industry's highest honour. The article goes on to quote film historian Philip Hallman, who says "most people have to finally accept that the Oscars have become elitist and not in step with anything that is actually popular".
10 to see
Life, Published on 10/10/2014
» A banquet of movies is back to please gluttonous (not always a bad thing) cinema-goers at the 12th World Film Festival of Bangkok, which begins next Friday at SF CentralWorld. As usual, European titles, Asian mavericks, Latin American stories as well as hot documentaries pack the 10-day programme that shows a total of 60 films.