THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
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Positive pictures of Down Syndrome

Positive pictures of Down Syndrome

Five incredible young Thais are spotlighted in the new documentary film "The Down"

They've drawn embarrassed stares, looks of pity or simply been ignored, but now the lives of youngsters born with the genetic disorder trisomy 21, or Down syndrome, are coming into the spotlight and for all the right reasons.
Sutthiphot “Bank” Kanoknak, Kamonporn “Pan” Vachiramon, twins Onnipa “Orm” and Atiya “Un” Kanjanasiri and Sirinluck “Beer” Chalat, all in their 20s, are the main characters in “The Down”. The documentary, which has followed the lives of all five over the course of a year, is directed and produced by Wongthanong Chainarongsingha, founder of A Day magazine and the managing director of A Day Poets Publishing group.
Sutthiphot works in a branch of Uniqlo. He loves karaoke, is always punctual and is saving up to buy a new home for his parents. Kamonporn, a graduate of Bangkok University, works for AIS customer service. Twins Onnipa and Atiya won the top prize for bocce in the Special Olympics. And Sirinluck will be a familiar face to patrons at Starbucks on Soi Lang Suan. A hard worker, she uses her entire salary to support her family and help out with her siblings’ school fees.
Wongthanong, who narrates the documentary, tells XP that he was inspired to make the film during a visit to Italy. 
“I saw many people with Down’s and was impressed by how they were simply part of society. No one paid them particular attention. There was none of the giggles behind hands that we so often observe here in Thailand,” he says.
Part of the problem, he continues, is that Thais tend to know very little about people who are different from them. “We are very insular. We stick to our circle of friends, those with whom we share similar interests, lifestyle or social status. When we do venture out of our cocoon, it is to pander to those who have higher status in the hope it will bring us some benefit.
“Those who have a lower status than us, we automatically push away. They include people with special needs as well as workers from neighbouring countries. It’s not just prejudice but ignorance about those who do not interest us,” Wongthanong says.
Wongthanong is the first to admit that before starting work on the film, his knowledge of Down syndrome was zero. “The only person I could think of was [the late comedian] Sayun Doksadao.
The genetic disorder causes those born with Down’s to have a common physical appearance regardless of race or nationality – low muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes and flat noses. Cognitive delays vary from mild to severe and IQ tends to be lower. Yet despite those obvious disadvantages, many improve their abilities and skills to the extent that they can integrate with so-called “normal” people at school, in the workplace and in leisure activities.
Yet the vast majority of Thais still believe those born with Down syndrome can’t live a normal life and their families need to take care of them forever, which is not only untrue but also incredibly short sighted.
Wongthanong has gone to great lengths to ensure that everything is the film is 100-per-cent accurate. The first stop his team made was the Rajawadee Institution of Department of Social Development and Welfare, which was set up in the 1970s to help children with intellectual disabilities. They also interviewed doctors and parents of Down syndrome children before finally selecting five youngsters to star in the film.
“They will show us that Down’s people can do much more than we can think. Each of the five has achieved a measure of success, which proves that a good and interesting life is possible with support from the family,” says Wongthanong.
All were raised by parents who didn’t give up and worked hard to help their kids improve their skills and personality so that they could live independently once when their parents were gone.
 The story, he says, will show how their parents and family played a pivotal role in helping the Down’s youngsters become independent and part of society.
“I know that there are many Down’s people out there who suffer because their parents ignored them,” he says, adding that he has chosen not to focus too much on that angle as he wants documentary to convey a message of hope, especially to families with Down syndrome kids.
“I want the documentary to be positive just as we’ve made A Day positive from the very beginning,” says the editor who started the magazine 15 year ago with funding from the media, film directors, writers and bookworms. It quickly became known for selecting topics that inspired.
One of the biggest success stories in “The Down” is Kamonporn who was able to graduate from university even though she has a learning disability. With a higher level of education and support from her family, she’s been able to acquire more complicated skills than her co-stars.
Sutthiphot, meanwhile, does whatever is asked of him by his Uniqlo colleagues, such as folding clothes and welcoming shoppers. He, like Sirinluck at Starbucks, is much appreciated for his punctuality – neither of them has ever been late for work. 
“What I love most about Down’s people is that they live in the present. They don’t look back at the past or worry about the future, which is the right mindset for being happy. Moreover they are inevitably good hearted, polite and punctual,” he adds.
Initially planned as a 15- or 16-part TV series, Wongthanong changed his mind after two days shooting. 
“It’s such a good story that I didn’t want it to go unnoticed among the hundreds TV programmes produced. Blowing it up to movie length will help the film be in the spotlight as there are fewer players in this field,” he says
“Whether it’s a book, TV programme or movie, the most important factor is the storytelling. I’m a movie lover and interested in moviemaking. I can take on all the roles with the exception of acting,” Wongthanong says.
“What’s important is that the film gives hope to the audience and makes them realise how good their life is compared to my five star,” he adds. “Perhaps it might even make people think of mixing with those who are not in their orbit.”
 
UP ON THE SCREEN
  •   “The Down” will be released cinemas on Thursday.
  •  For more details, see www.Facebook.com/thedownmovie.
 
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