Showing 1 - 10 of 19
Paradise lost
Life, Kong Rithdee, Published on 04/04/2025
» In Grand Tour, Miguel Gomes' beguiling travelogue set in 1917, a British diplomat in Burma journeys across Southeast Asia, hopping from country to country, to avoid an encounter with his fiancée. Edward (Gonçalo Waddington) is a colonial officer who, struck by an inexplicable premonition or a case of cold feet, decides to flee Mandalay just before his sweetheart Molly (Crista Alfaiate) is due to arrive. He boards a ship to Singapore, then a train to Bangkok -- it derails on the way, but still makes it -- and onwards to Saigon, Manila, Osaka and Chongqing. Molly, pursuing him, would repeat a more or less similar route.
Celebration of tradition
Life, Tatat Bunnag, Published on 20/01/2023
» Veteran filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda became known after winning the Palme d'Or at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival for the crime drama Shoplifters despite having directed films and TV series for nearly three decades. Renowned for his gentle sense of pacing, simple yet beautiful cinematography, and a focus on the complexities of family relationships, he showcased his skills in previous works such as After The Storm (2016), Like Father, Like Son (2013) and Nobody Knows (2004). However, the one that has stuck in my mind to this day is Our Little Sister (2015), a female-focused drama that gave us a cosy, heartwarming family story, along with rich cultural and beautiful vistas of the Japanese countryside.
Recalling Bangkok's dark side
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 16/06/2022
» Many places are veiled in darkness. Arguably, they were once -- or still -- a reminder of things that should be left unsaid. You may entertain the thought of them, but should not make them known. Who wants to hear of social evil and death? But these places can offer a deeper understanding of what our city is made of.
The passion of Pasolini
Life, Kong Rithdee, Published on 10/06/2022
» Pier Paolo Pasolini was born in Bologna on March 5, 1922, and died in a violent, mysterious circumstance on the outskirts of Rome in November 1975. This year marks the centenary of the Italian poet's and filmmaker's birth, and this Sunday at 1pm, the Thai Film Archive will screen Pasolini's first film as director, Accattone, a gloriously austere ode to underclass plight. It will be the first time the 1961 film is screened in Thailand.
Deep in the paradox
Life, Kong Rithdee, Published on 25/05/2022
» In Cairo, a religious student at the prestigious Al-Azhar Islamic University is recruited by secret police to infiltrate a Muslim Brotherhood cell. In Mashad, a holy city in Iran, a serial killer prowls a seedy suburb and strangles head-scarfed prostitutes. In the first film, bloodlust officials torture dissidents with abandon. In the second film, religion is evoked and the name of God is cited as a justification for murder. This begs the obvious question: Will Boy From Heaven be banned in Egypt, and Holy Spider Iran?
The bigger picture
Life, Tatat Bunnag, Published on 21/02/2022
» By now, everyone is probably aware of OnlyFans, an online social media platform known for allowing anyone to share 18+ content in order to make money. It's a platform that has generated many controversies, especially in Thailand in the past few months, whether it be criticism in society or headline news involving arrests of several young women believed to be so-called "sex creators".
Finding inspiration in surroundings
Life, Suwitcha Chaiyong, Published on 10/11/2021
» Portraits are important records of history, culture and lifestyle. Recently, Thailand held its own national portrait competition titled "RCB Portrait Prize 2021", organised by River City Bangkok to provide opportunities for Thai artists to display their skills and creative ideas through portrait paintings.
Changing stereotypes, conquering hate
Life, Tatat Bunnag, Published on 28/04/2021
» Former US president Donald J. Trump often referred last year to Covid-19 as the "kung flu", "Asian virus" or "China virus", mostly because it originated in this part of the world.
Age-old debate on the world's oldest profession
Life, Suwitcha Chaiyong, Published on 25/11/2020
» Should sex work be considered a crime? Thais have debated this for several decades. Prostitution was legal until the Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act was launched in 1960 and later replaced with the current law. Even though 1996 law claimed to protect prostitutes and prevent human trafficking, it had the opposite effect because it still makes sex work illegal.
Irresponsible or misunderstood?
Life, Pattarawadee Saengmanee, Published on 16/03/2020
» In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, all eyes are now on illegal migrant workers -- or the so-called phi noi, or little ghosts -- who returned from South Korea to Thailand. Like those travelling back from other high-risk countries, the authorities have asked all returnees to self-quarantine at home. Unfortunately, some ignored the request.