Remembering the masters
Vesoul Fest pays tribute to Thai screen classics of the past
RARELY SHOWN CLASSIC Thai films, some that were believed to be lost, will be shown in next month's International Film Festival of Asian Cinema in Vesoul, France.
Among those nearly-lost masterpieces in the festival’s “Forgotten Masters of Thai Cinema” programme is “Citizen I” (“Thongpoon Khopko Rasadorn Temkan”), MC Chatrichalerm Yukol’s 1977 drama about a poor taxi driver from Isaan struggling to retrieve his stolen cab from Bangkok thugs. It’s been compared to the Italian classic “The Bicycle Thieves”, and it spawned a sequel, “Citizen II”, which is more commonly in circulation. The newly restored version of “Citizen I” will make its world premiere in Vesoul.
Programmed by Bastian Meiresonne, who was assisted in tracking down his titles by the Thai Film Archive and some studios, particularly Five Star Production, the “Forgotten Masters” range from 1940’s anti-war historical epic “King of the White Elephant”, produced by statesman Pridi Banonmyong, up to Wist Sasanatieng’s 2000 homage to 1970s Thai action films, “Tears of the Black Tiger”.
Both those films, as well as “Citizen I” and many others, are listed in the Thai Culture Ministry’s Registry of Films as National Heritage. Others at Vesoul include 1957’s rollicking comedy “Country Hotel”, by pioneering auteur RD Pestonji and Permpol Choei-arun’s “Muang Nai Mhok” (“A Town in Fog”), a taut 1978 drama loosely based on Albert Camus’ “The Misunderstanding”.
Permpol’s 1978 followup, the drama “Pai Daeng” (“Red Bamboo”), about a monk in conflict with his communist childhood friend, will also screen, along with another socialist-leaning tale, 1981’s “On the Fringes of Society” by Manop Udomdej.
Celebrated auteur Cherd Songsri will be represented by his gender equality story from the Rama IV era, 1994’s “Amdaeng Muen Kab Nai Rid” (“Muen and Rid”), and writer-director Vichit Kounavudhi will have his 1982 rural drama “Look Isaan” (“Son of the Northeast”).
And among the directors in focus is Euthana Mukdasanit, who will be part of the international jury. His films include the at-one-time-banned 1977 socialist drama “Tongpan”, his 1985 Deep South childhood tale “Butterfly and Flowers” and the rarely seen 1978 musical romance “Angel of Bar 21”.
Others taking part in the festival will be South Korean director Im Sang-soo as jury president and Thai producer Donsaron Kovitvanitcha on the Netpac jury. Thai Film Archive deputy director Sanchai Chotirosseranee will also be hand. The Vesoul International Festival of Asian Cinema runs from February 3 to 10.
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