Pen-ek clings to neutral colours
Pen-ek Rattanaruang did a lot of soul-searching while filming his documentary about Thailand's political divide, "Pachatipathai" ("Paradoxocracy"), and failed to find an inner self wearing either a red shirt or a yellow shirt
Taking a liberal approach from the outset, he said he didn’t want to earn any money from the movie. As it turned out, he felt amply compensated by having the chance to meet interesting people like Sulak Sivalaksa, Thongchai Witnitjakul and Chaiyan Chaiyaporn. “Even if I had a Bt100 million I might not be able to sit down and talk to them,” he said.
But many of his friends were prodding the director to raise the flag for the yellows or the reds. “And when I say I’m neither of them, they brand me salim,” he said, referring to the red shirts’ term for the not-quite-neutral multicoloured group.
Pen-ek doesn’t claim neutrality in how he’s portrayed Thai democracy, but bristles at any suggestion that it favours one bloc over another. “If my film is no good, just say it sucks. Don’t brand me any colour.”
The promotional trailer alone, though, made a lot of folks assume he’s red. And while being interviewed on Voice TV, co-host Luckana “Kampaka” Panwichai tried to talk him into casting his lot with the reds. All Pen-ek will concede is that he shares the reds’ allergy to military coups.
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Easy rider
A “hi-so” lady of delicate features, Democrat Party deputy spokesperson Chitpas “Tant” Bhirombhakdi rides a superbike.
While she touts the convenience of getting around the city, she admits in Praew magazine that motorcycling was her childhood dream. Her father said it was too dangerous, so the dream had to wait.
Tant bought a Ducati Monster 795 for Bt400,000 (without asking her parents) and learned how to ride it at a Ducati centre. “Dad only asked where I got the money!”
Her mum, Khunying Piyapas, remains fearful, but Tant’s a mouthpiece for the opposition – how much more dangerous can a motorcycle be?
