Thailand Film

Film in Thailand:

Thais can be very shy and conservative when it comes to sex. Most Thai actress refuse to do nude scenes and explicit sex scenes are cut from movies. Politics and controversial social issues are also largely absent from Thai film. Thai filmmakers resort to either action movies or comedies. They would rather deal with more serious social themes or controversial topic or touch on subjects that even hint of politics.

Population:
67.96 million (2015)

Ethnic Groups:
Thai
Sino-Tibetan
Austroastiatic
Malayo-Polynesian

Religions:
Buddhism
Hinduism

Government Type:
Modern Nation State

Capital:
Bangkok

Thailand Economy:
Thailand is a newly industrialized country. Its economy is heavily export-dependent, with exports accounting for more than two-thirds of its gross domestic product.

GDP:
395.3 billion

Industries and Exports:
The manufacturing sector constitutes Thailand's main industry, producing a wide variety of goods such as textiles and garments, plastics, footwear, electronics, integrated circuits, computers and components, automobiles and parts, and cement.

Cinemas in Thailand are popular venues for entertainment. Especially in Bangkok, the movie theaters tend to be multiplex facilities offering many other forms of entertainment besides movies, such as bowling or karaoke, along with restaurants and small shops.

The films playing in Thai cinemas are usually first-run Hollywood features, which tend to dominate the box-office scene.^[1] There is a burgeoning Thai film industry that is making dozens of films each year that are increasingly popular with local audiences, and routinely outpace the Hollywood films at the box office. Films from other Asian countries, such as Korea, Japan and Hong Kong, are popular as well.

Film dubbing

The advent of sound raised another problem for cinemas in Thailand: the language of the talkies. Soon a dubbing method developed in which a dubber would provide a simultaneous translation of the dialogue by speaking Thai into a microphone at the back of the theater. 

Also, there were film companies that could not afford to make sound films, and would make films with the intention that they would be dubbed at screenings by live performers reading from a script. These dubbed films proved as popular as the talkies, especially if the dubber was well known.

Post-war years: The 16-mm era

After the end of the Second World War, filmmaking got under way again in Thailand using surplus sixteen mm black-and-white stock from wartime newsreel production.

At least two Thai films were produced in 1946. One was an action film, Chai Chatree (Brave Men), directed by journalist-turned-filmmaker Chalerm Sawetanant. The screenplay was by writer Malai Chupinij, who would go on to script other films of the era, including Chao Fah Din Salai (Till Death Do Us Part). The other film noted by the National Film Archive for 1946 was an adaptation of a Thai folktale, Chon Kawao (The Village of Chon Kawao).

The vividly colored films were popular with audiences as well, prompting dozens of new filmmakers to enter the business.

The 1970s and '80s

Thailand saw an explosion of locally produced films during the 1970s after the Thai government imposed a heavy tax on imported films in 1977, which led to a boycott of Thailand by Hollywood studios. To pick up the slack, 150 Thai films were made in 1978 alone. Many of these films were low-grade action films. 

The Thai New Wave

By 1981, Hollywood studios were once again sending films to Thailand. This was a low period for the Thai film industry, and by the mid-1990s, studio output was averaging about 10 films per year.

Thai independent fil

With the New Wave directors achieving commercial and artistic success, a new crop of filmmakers has grown up outside the traditional and often restrictive Thai studio system to create experimental short films and features

In Thailand a floating screen was created for a film festival using local lobster fisherman rafts with tires and then a separate platform for the audience was made so that they could sit back, relax and enjoy the show amidst the aesthetic scenery. The screen was placed in front of two beautiful rocks in the archipelago in the Bay of Bengal for a film festival called “Film on the Rocks Yao Noi.” 

After the Wedding

1)     Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

Jacob dedicates his life to helping street children in India, and when the orphanage he runs may be closed, he receives an interesting offer. A businessman will give him millions of dollars to return to Denmark and take part in the wedding of the man's daughter. This is a major dramatic turning point in his life.

2)    Find a related article and summarize the content. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/30/movies/30wedd.html

This film focuses on family secrets, the genuine struggles of the rich, and the desperate orphan children in India. From the opening scene in India where poverty stricken children are pushing and shoving each other to grab bowls of rice being distributed from the back of the truck to the closing dramatic scene at an orphanage in Bombay, this drama zeroes in on the many different shades of compassion in a world filled with suffering, loss, and surprise.

3)    Apply the article to the film screened in class.  

This article pointed out parts of the film that I would not have recognized only watching it once. There is significant meaning to the child in india and showing the difference in class. You get a taste of the rich and the poor poverty stricken. You see how the child would rather stay there with his friends and is happy with just a ball and a outfit. It is very heart wrenching, also touching to see how rich people can take their goods for granted. 

4)    Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion,  formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article. 

              I really enjoyed this film. It made me feel emotional because, I felt compassion for the orphan child as well as the daughter who finally had her real father. Jacob got a taste of the best of both worlds. Where the truly rich can have everything and anything and still not be one hundred percent content but then on the other hand someone with nothing and knows none of that sea of wealth is more at peace. I like how we got to see the rich peoples problems and that it wasn't candy coated. It definitely broadened my insight on greed, class, secrets, compassion and love.

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM 

1) (x  ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class. 

2) (  x) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper. 

3) ( x ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) ( x ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper. 

5) (  x) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read. 

6) (x  ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography. 

7) (  x) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality. 

8) (x  ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper. 

Name: ____jenevieve campo____________________  Date: ____________4/9/2017________________

Citation

New York Times (2007). Shifty Wedding Crashers: Secrets from the past
Published March 30, 2007 From

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/30/movies/30wedd.html

Marjane

1)     Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

In class we discussed Iran, during and after the Islamic revolution. We spoke about Marjane Satrapi and how she wrote a novel and then it turned into a film. A french comics publisher published her books and another artist drew the cartoon up for Marjane's novel. 

2)    Find a related article and summarize the content. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/25/movies/25pers.html  This article talks about the film and how it depicts a young girl's life coming into difficult times, a tale the unfolds with such grace, intelligence and charm. The film is passionate and emotional, it is also daring and shows her brave. It shows her growing up and her difficult times and depressed behavior. Marjane wanted to live life to the fullest and make her parents proud of her. She went through many stages in her life. 

3)    Apply the article to the film screened in class.  

The article stressed that the film is PG-13 and parents are strongly cautioned. It has violent scenes although it is a cartoon and also has sex scenes. For the most part the film is calm in its story line but those parts do sneak up from time to time. The movie is based on Marjane's life and her opening up in all honesty is very moving to other women of her culture as well as showing those open minded americans another point of view.

4)    Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion,  formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article. 

Marjane was a very good film. It brought out of a lot of different emotions. It was about a headstrong young female who was independent like myself. She was very outspoken and her behavior got her expelled from school. She was rebellious but, with a cause. They end up sending her to Vienna and she ends up being raised by nuns. She seems very dedicated to her beliefs and does not allow anything to sway her thoughts. She also fails in love more then once but I enjoyed the humorous side of that. Not everything in life is roses and peaches. This film is very deep and intricate. 

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM 

1) (x  ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class. 

2) (  x) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper. 

3) ( x ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) ( x ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper. 

5) (  x) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read. 

6) (x  ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography. 

7) (  x) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality. 

8) (x  ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper. 

Name: ____jenevieve campo____________________  Date: ____________4/9/2017________________

Citation

New York Times (2007). In a Flat World, A Rebel with a Cause

Published Dec. 25, 2007, from 

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/25/movies/25pers.html

Tsotsi Review

1)     Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

In class we discussed how there was a use of food in this film between what a lower class citizen might eat like tsotsi vs someone who is wealthy. We also talked about how a life can really change someone. Life is all about communication, figuring it out and developing your character as well as your surroundings. We talked about how South Africa is a huge country, powerful and rich at times. They have experienced a dramatic history and past much likes the united states of america. The source of their wealth is diamonds, blood diamonds and mining in general. Oprah Winfrey opened up a school for girls. There is an HIV problem there. This film "Tsotsi" won Best Foreign Film-2005

2)    Find a related article and summarize the content. 

http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/tsotsi-2006

In this article Roger Ebert gives a great synopsis of the film. He also attempted to inform us of his point of view on the film. Tsotsi was a hurt person, hurting others. He was a cold blooded killer who did not care about life at all until one day he robbed an upper class family. After shotting a woman in the foot and driving off with the stolen car, Tsotsi noticing that there is a baby in the car. He could not kill it. Instead, he takes the baby and cares for it as best he knows how. It also helped open his eyes to realize what is doing and how he is living his life. You can tell he has a change of heart. 

3)    Apply the article to the film screened in class.  

The article has a very empathic way of how they choose to depict that main character. You get to see his sweet side and the side of him that just needs to be held and cry. He Tsotsi seems very confused but, once he finds the infant in the back of the car he stole, you can see him lighten up. This is a character change in the story and it is very emotional and beautiful. The article basically fills you in on the whole story. But it is much more compelling to watch in person. 

4)    Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion,  formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article. 

   

 The soundtrack is amazing and allows you to flow through the film with ease as well as grasp attention to what is going on. I did not expect there to be a baby in the stolen car and neither was Tsotsi, you got to see  a personal transition from bad to good. This is very rare and in most cases does not happen. It is very suspenseful and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I was also not expecting the main character to be poor but you can see the difference in living situations between low and high class. It made me emotional because, this is not an everyday situation but for this killer, he woke up out of this funk. A life is important and can changes someones life for better and possibly even for the rest of their lives. We do have one life to live, we can start new again every day if we choose not to make the same mistake more then once. !!!

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM 

1) (x  ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class. 

2) (  x) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper. 

3) ( x ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) ( x ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper. 

5) (  x) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read. 

6) (x  ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography. 

7) (  x) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality. 

8) (x  ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper. 

Name: ____jenevieve campo____________________  Date: ____________4/9/2017________________

Citation

Roger Ebert.com (2006). Movies. Reviews; Tsotsi

Published March 9, 2006, from 

http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/tsotsi-2006

The Wedding Banquet

1)     Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

In class we discussed Hong Kong in the 1990's and how they wanted more freedom. We also talked about lifestyle and the strict rituals that people on that culture were brought up in. We also discussed how Ang Lee has gay characters featuring in three of his films. The Wedding Banquet being the first of those three films. We also talked about the pop culture of Japanese in our country and how it hit multiple markets from clothing, toys and even food. 

2)    Find a related article and summarize the content. 

http://articles.latimes.com/1993-08-04/entertainment/ca-20238_1_wedding-banquet

This is one of Ang Lee’s early films and depicts a tie between Taiwanese and American, GLBT and straight. It’s got humor, love of many kinds, a bit of pathos and a lot of understanding. 

Wai Tong Gao is a successful businessman living in New York with his lover Simon. Wai’s traditional parents pressure him to find the perfect Chinese woman and get married. Wei Wei a tenant of Wai's agrees to get married for a green card and they work on getting to know one another enough to lie to the government. Wai's parents end up visiting and want to throw an elaborate wedding. Wai and Wei Wei go along with it and get married, they put on a whole show for his parents. They end up having sexual intercourse that night and Wei Wei gets pregnant. 

Simone finds out and threatens to leave, Wai's father ends up having a stroke and ends up in the hospital. Wai ends up telling his mother the truth about his sexuality and that in fact he has been in a relationship with Simone for eight years. His mother takes a while to understand him but, asks that he does not tell his father once he is out of the hospital. (Figuring that he would not accept this homosexual behavior and possibly end up sick again)

The father ends up telling Simone that he knows and understand a little english, he confides in him and gives him a gift. He also says that he is happy that he let Wai and Wei Wei lie for the simple fact that it got him his grandchild. He is satisfied knowing this will allow his family legacy and name to live on. 

This film is showing two men who love each other and want to live together. They do not let anything get in the way and at the end of the film you see the parents going back home and they are all saying goodbye at the airport. Simone accepts that Wei Wei is going to have the baby and all three of them are left standing there arm in arm, to figure out the next steps. 

3)    Apply the article to the film screened in class.  

I chose this article because, it spoke to me and how the film made me feel. It was about love and acceptance. It pulls all types of emotions out of the viewer. It touches on the culture differences and the need to be liberated from your parents. It also shows how love conquers all. The article explains how all of this is tied into the character, the plot and the story line. On every level, there is an underlining message of unconditional love and acceptance that we all as humans want to feel. 

4)    Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion,  formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article. 

   

I analyzed this film with esthetic value being at the forefront of everything I have learned from watching it. I loved the depth of Wai's relationship with his parents. He would do anything for this love for them, anything to please them. Simone was understanding and loved him unconditionally. In reality who would have stayed through all of that turmoil. Even with all of the obstacles, the family as a whole ended up making everything work. The cultural differences were looked at with admiration and respect. The father even saw past his sons sexual preference and chose to love him still. In the end love is what kept growing which is amazing. This film is beautiful and should possibly even be remade to enlighten the youth of today! 

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM 

1) (x  ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class. 

2) (  x) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper. 

3) ( x ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) ( x ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper. 

5) (  x) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read. 

6) (x  ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography. 

7) (  x) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality. 

8) (x  ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper. 

Name: ____jenevieve campo____________________  Date: ____________3/02/2017________________

Citation

LA Times (1993) Cultural Provocateur : In "The Wedding Banquet," Ang lee Stirs Up Custom

Published August 4, 1993, from Patrick Pacheo

http://articles.latimes.com/1993-08-04/entertainment/ca-20238_1_wedding-banquet