Showing 51 - 60 of 142
Section 112 the elephant in the room
News, Kong Rithdee, Published on 14/10/2017
» The elephant isn't simply in the room; it is in the room and charging tusk-first at an old man with a walking stick.
Windows on the world
Life, Kong Rithdee, Published on 28/09/2017
» As Hussain Currimbhoy sees it, this is a golden age for documentary filmmaking, a time when the criss-crossing narratives of the world tangle with audiences' growing suspicion over traditional media. The emergence of streaming services has also revolutionised distribution philosophy and connected doc-makers with audiences in ways unseen before, especially with audiences who once had little interest in documentary titles.
Squaring off at Cannes
Life, Kong Rithdee, Published on 02/06/2017
» It was "a bad year", "a disappointing year", "a weak year", and so on. Curmudgeonly, typically, sometime jeeringly -- I count myself in the pack -- the critics bemoaned Cannes' official selection in the year it was supposed to be all glory and fireworks as the world's most important film festival blew its 70th candle. To the press corps present, the consensus (or something close) was that the "elite" competition titles were a catalogue of predictable provocations and unrealised ambitions, on top of the more-of-the-same arthouse fare from directors who attract attention by their names rather than by their latest works. It's true. But as always with Cannes, the expectation is too high, the collective hallucination too overpowering, and the four-to-five-films-a-day ordeal took a toll on enthusiasm even to the most passionate out there.
EU film fest brings many shades of modern Europe
Life, Kong Rithdee, Published on 18/05/2017
» The stories of Europe are told in the 13 films at the European Union Film Festival 2017, which begins tonight at SF CentralWorld.
Cannes at 70 still going strong
Life, Kong Rithdee, Published on 17/05/2017
» Stars, film professionals and journalists have descended en masse to the South of France as Cannes Film Festival opens its 70th edition tonight. Still the world's most influential cinema event despite the shifting landscape brought by streaming services and the rise of TV, Cannes is steadfast in its mission to celebrate world cinema with its programme of established auteurs, as well as discoveries. That, and then the celebrity pages online and in print, will have a busy period as stars and film personalities walk the famous Cannes red carpet during the next 10 days.
Ghost in the machine
Life, Kong Rithdee, Published on 05/05/2017
» French director Olivier Assayas sees great similarities between the world of digital and the world of the spirit. All of us, he said, communicate with the invisible -- through our phones or through a spiritual medium.
A new vision on Siam's enduring symbol
Life, Kong Rithdee, Published on 26/04/2017
» The elephant and the man, walking down the road to redemption and encountering the wounded and the marginalised, the madmen and the prostitutes. In the film Pop Aye, which will kick off Bangkok Asean Film Festival 2017 this evening (see sidebar), the fine-tusked beast accompanies the lost soul as the duo find their way home from Bangkok to the Northeast.
Giving women a voice
Life, Kong Rithdee, Published on 03/03/2017
» A robust line-up of films is coming to us in HeForShe Arts Week Bangkok Film Festival. Organised by UN Women, next week's festival has selected films with messages on gender equality -- or inequality -- and unfair treatment of women in different cultures (not just in the "Third World" countries, to be sure). It sounds heavy, but the good thing is that the titles picked for the event this year are entertaining and heartfelt on top of being socially relevant.
In our Oscar worthy Blah Blah Land
News, Kong Rithdee, Published on 25/02/2017
» The bonbon labelled La La Land is likely to rule the Oscars come Monday morning. While in our Blah Blah Land the drama is bitter, the song muted and the sky inclement.
Enjoy a Japanese treat this weekend
Life, Kong Rithdee, Published on 10/02/2017
» This week Japanese Film Festival 2017 continues at SF CentralWorld, and we also have a regular release (though with limited showtime) of acclaimed Japanese drama Harmonium. Let's take a look at what's on offer.