A bright, shining light on the horizon

Auroras – the diaphanous coloured lights in the sky above the Earth’s poles – aren’t visible from Thailand, but they’re a powerful symbol of hope for the travelling show of short political films called Thai Aurora at the Horizon. The featured movies foresee an end to the ideological conflict, even if full reconciliation remains unattainable.
Preparations have been underway since November, months before the military stepped in and made political talk a risky endeavour. Its 14 short films by directors ranging in age from 19 to 28 offer different perspectives on politically charged issues.
“From power relationships and education to the media, each film takes on a different topic to create awareness and encourage political participation,” says an event press release. “We do not expect to change the country, directly or immediately. But this project might be one way to approach the current crisis.”
The collection kicks off with “Shut Sound: Lao Duang Duen” by Joaquin Niamtubtim. The dulcet tones of classical Thai music accompany footage of this year’s anti-government protests around Siam Square. The peaceful music imbues the scenes of hawkers’ stalls selling whistles with a feeling of tranquillity, reminiscent of traditional rural ways of life. But the scene soon becomes violent with news footage from the military’s takedown of the 2010 protests, when another government was under pressure.
Next is a journey into the countryside. In “Lice in the Wonderland” by Boonyarit Wiangnon, rural folk offer differing opinions about the Democrat-led government as well as the governments of the Thaksin Shinawatra faithful. It seems that both did some good, and yet the farmers’ struggle to subsist continues.
Coming closest to offering a solution is “The Taxi Meter” by Natpakhan Khemkhao. A young man wearing the tricolour kit of this year’s anti-Thaksin protesters gets into a cab. Only well along the road does he realise the driver is a staunch red shirt. Yet their exchange is surprisingly civil and forward-thinking, perhaps an example for everyone to follow. If there can’t be unity – despite the military’s efforts to force its brand of “happiness” on everyone – perhaps the two sides can agree to disagree.
Or maybe not, as demonstrated in “When I Was in Grade 12” by Prempapat Plittapolkranpim, which captures a man’s hair-raising harangue in a high-school classroom. It’s hard to get a sense of what he’s so upset about, but he keeps yelling and won’t shut up.
“Mosquito in the Ant Land” by festival organiser Supakit Seksuwan follows the progress of an ant carrying a mosquito on a hazard-filled journey across a floor. Apply your own interpretation of the metaphor.
More news footage from the violent aftermath of the 2010 protests comes up in “Tear of a Child” by Weerachai Jitsoonthorntip, in which a youngster is watching a TV screen empty showing only static but emitting the sounds of the struggle. The end is reminiscent of an American anti-pollution commercial from the 1970s that featured a Native American’s emotional reaction to littering.
“Introducing Post Thailand” by Nuttawat Attasawat offers a view of a possible future in which everyone is happy to sit at the same kitchen table. A giant tricolour flag decorates the wall. “Education Suicide” by Karnchanit Posawat examines one possible way to practise civil disobedience, with schoolboys showing up for class despite the school being closed.
But then there’s a feeling of hopelessness, such as in “The Youth” by Ukrit Sa-nguanhai and Chayajee Krittayapongsakorn. An underwater camera films children cavorting in a swimming pool and shouting unintelligible phrases at the camera. Or there’s a feeling of drowning, such as in “My Hand is Still Looking” by Harin Paesongthai. The hand is the only thing poking above the surface of the water.
Other films are “Brother Ping-Ping Waiting in Line to Eat Fried Chicken” by Thai Pradithkesorn, the post-apocalyptic and dystopian “After Babylon” by Napat Treepalawisetkun, and “Sleepwalker” by Manasak Khlongchainan.
Near the end, the nationalistic songs played at the whistle-blowing protests are heard in “Here Comes the Democrat Party” by Chulayarnnon Siriphol. Thailand keeps marching along, but where, exactly, is it headed?

BODY POLITIC
After playing to a packed room at TK Park last Sunday, Thai Aurora at the Horizon moves to the Reading Room on Silom Soi 19 for a screening at 2pm on Sunday.
Running 102 minutes in total, the films all have English subtitles. There will be a directors’ talk afterward. Entry is free. For details, see Facebook.com/thaiaurora2014.