They're letting him show this?
Two years ago while attending the Cannes Film Festival with "Headshot" under his arm, Pen-ek Ratanaruang was asked about his next project. He said, perhaps too casually, that it would be about Thai politics.
Lo and behold, here it is. It’s a documentary called “Paradoxocracy”, co-produced with Pasakorn “Ake” Pramoolwong. It premieres at the Lido cinema on February 7.
“I made this film,” he says, “because I started wondering, ‘What is democracy?’ and ‘Why democracy?’ A few years ago I realised that politics wasn’t something remote. Whenever I meet my friends it comes up in the conversation.”
So he set out to unravel all the questions on his mind. It wasn’t easy. “The more I dug into history, the more questions arose.”
Making “Paradoxocracy” gave Pen-ek the chance to interview most of Thailand’s leading academics. “That was something money can’t buy, to talk to them and learn from them. I never had a dull moment on this project. It is very exciting – far from what I learned in school.”
We can’t wait to see it – especially the part where Thaksin shows up.
Bust a jaw
Singer-actor Matthew Deane Chantavanij has opened a boxing camp. Evidently his enthusiasm for the sport goes well beyond emceeing Channel 3’s popular “Thai Fight” muay thai broadcasts.
In fact he’s been a big fan since he was a kid. “My uncle was a trainer and was among the first people to go abroad to promote muay thai,” says Matthew, who’s dating singer Saranrat “Lydia” Wisutthithada.
But his camp, Sittha Muay Thai, is a place for muay thai exercise rather than grooming boxers. “People ask if I have the backing of any influential persons, but I only have a few friends as shareholders. I don’t need high-powered support because I won’t be sending out boxers to fight.”
So, can Matthew take a punch? He’s not that talented in the ring, he says, but he can spot a good trainer when he sees one.
