I heard some news that makes me shocked
THIS MOVIE WILL BE BANNED IN THAILAND
because some scence have made doctor's image[ such as booze scene] worsened
including monk's [a monk is playing the guitar]
.
.
I don't understand what is thai censorship's measure
This movie wasn't banned in Thailand but worse than that.
The movie was firstly planned for screening in only 2 theaters in Bangkok on April, 19th.
The committee have ordered the filmmaker to cut 4 scenes in the movie, more specifically,
1. the one with a monk playing a guitar
2. the one with a monk playing UFO toy.
3. the one with a doctor drinking alcohol
4. the one with a doctor kissing his girlfriend so that a viewer can notice that he has an erection
Mr. Apichatpong Weerasethakul refused to cut those scenes and decided to cancel the showing in Thailand and this is his words to the press..
"I, a filmmaker, treat my works as my own sons or my daughters. When I conceived them, they have their own lives to live. I don't mind if people are fond of them, or despise them, as long as I created them with my best intentions and efforts. If these offspring of mine cannot live in their own country for whatever reasons, let them be free. Since there are other places that warmly welcome them as who they are, there is no reason to mutilate them from the fear of the system, or from greed. Otherwise there is no reason for one to continue making art."
The following day, the committee refused to return the film to the filmmaker and insisted that they had to cut those 4 scenes whether it's gonna be screened or not. One member of the committee said "No one has ever dared doing something like that, even any blockbuster has never done something like you". This sentence just showed how the committee lack the knowledge about its own job, about arts and use its power in an extremely wrong way.
I'm upset about the movie not being shown here in Thailand, but when I heard they refused to return the film, I just couldn't bare it anymore, and now many people, many filmmakers, film-lovers, lovers of arts and freedom in Thailand are gathering their idea to end, or at least make a change to, this ugly system. It's a shame for my country to see how under-developed we are in this aspect.
More reports will come later! and we might need your help for the change.
Thanks!
I saw Syndromes at this years Melbourne Film Festival and am surprised that the Thai censors found these 4 scenes so worrying.
Given what goes on in Thailand's redlight districts - this film had NOTHING offensive in my opinion.
It is again a leisurely mimimalist film like his previous efforts Tropical Malady and Blisfully Yours - but unlike those 2 -which I snored through - Syndromes was ENTERTAINING!
I've lived in Thailand and been treated at both village hospitals and Bangkok's big hospitals - so the contrasts portrayed in this film brought back many memories.
All I want to know is what happened between the young monk and the singing dentist? I felt a gay relationship was hinted - but it was never pursued. Maybe it was cut out cos the censors here in Australia were worried about THAT?
I recommend seeing this film. It won't get a cinema release here - thes films are purely festival magnets.