Showing 1 - 9 of 9
Silver screen's future no longer golden
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 12/06/2020
» The Bangkok arthouse cinema House Samyan may look a little different today to frequent cinemagoers and cinephiles. Along the corridor of the 5th floor of Samyan Mitrtown, the cinema has placed memorable quotes from movies on the floor to remind people to keep their distance from one another. Masks, hand sanitiser, checking for fever, Thai Chana check-in -- audiences know the drill right from the entrance. But the most noticeable difference is actually inside the theatre itself. Empty seats and rows make sure people sit relatively far from one another. Partitions were installed between seats.
A woman's place
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 30/12/2019
» I felt anger rising in me as I sat through Kim Ji-young: Born 1982. And perhaps that's the film's intention: to rile us up. We deserve to be. We should throw a fit. We should take a stand and finally put our foot down. How else are we ever going to escape this inequality that has been assigned to us since birth? This has to stop.
Diversity marks TIFF awards
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 08/11/2019
» The 32nd Tokyo International Film Festival concluded earlier this week, with Frelle Petersen's Uncle from Denmark taking home the top Tokyo Grand Prix/Governor of Tokyo award. The drama, which had its world premiere in Tokyo, is about a young woman's life as she cares for her elderly, disabled uncle in rural Denmark.
World firsts and retrospectives at 32nd Tiff
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 24/10/2019
» The Tokyo International Film Festival (Tiff) is back, and as ever, it features a fantastic line-up of Japanese and international cinematic treats. The 32nd edition of Tiff, one of the biggest film fests in Asia, will be held at Roppongi Hills and other venues throughout Tokyo from Monday until Nov 5.
An enduring love story
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 16/08/2019
» A relationship is never complete without a cat.
A tasty alternative to movies-as-usual
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 15/09/2016
» Finding alternative, independent films amidst mainstream Hollywood blockbusters in Thai cinemas can often feel like finding a needle in a haystack. The selection is small. Screening times, often at odd hours, are limited. And those living outside of Bangkok -- far away from the arthouse spots like Lido and House RCA -- can't help but wonder: "Don't I have anything else to watch but Sully, Don't Breathe and Shin Godzilla this week?".
War is hell
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 08/04/2016
» When a film becomes financially successful, a second is almost a given. While a sequel is the natural option, one could also take the less-travelled road and make a prequel. But if it can't be decided between one or the other, then why not both? That's what's happened with The Huntsman: Winter's War.
Panda to the crowds
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 30/03/2016
» When we first met French sculptor Paulo Grangeon, he broke out his business card in a casual manner. But it was no boring, rectangular card we're used to seeing everywhere. Grangeon's card was black and white, and, obviously, shaped like a panda.
Flawed, but with a message
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 28/11/2014
» The new Thai film 1448 Love Among Us is a male-directed film about a lesbian couple. The movie poster contains the tagline "A girl-on-girl relationship is something men would never understand". The story is reminiscent a female-made American TV movie If These Walls Could Talk 2, whose first part, titled 1961, starred Vanessa Redgrave and Marian Seldes. It should be noted that If These Walls Could Talk 2 never advertised itself as a story certain groups of people would never get.