absolutelyBangkok archive · Culture & Arts
Originally published Sept. 24, 2008
It’s a classic Thai cerebral reaction. Don’t like something? Deny it, ignore it, away with it. Why tackle the root causes. Out of sight, out of mind. By not mentioning a problem you can make it — yes — disappear. The forbidden and denied though are more intriguing. Which is why the Thai powers that be just shot themselves once again in the foot.
As back then, after Thailand’s YouTube ban, when only more of those slanderous videos turned up. Now everybody wants to see „Children in the Dark,“ a Thai-Japanese film invited to the Bangkok Int’l Film Festival 2008. The film was canceled at the last minute with no given reason. A film rated PG-12 in Japan. Requiring “Parental Guidance.”
Banning a movie rated for children older than twelve. Too tough for Thailand’s authorities — the Ministry of Tourism in this case, official sponsor of the film fest. Censors’ reason being: The film features the social problem of trafficking in Thai children, buying of internal organs, children who encounter injury and violence and have to deal with pedophiles.
“Too Taboo to Comfort,” titled
Daily Xpress. See no evil, have no evil. The cancelation of the film though proves to bet he film’s best possible promotion. The fest’s unshown film is the fest’s most talked about. Kind of a Streisand effect — thanks Wise Kwai.
Yes, the film’s makers are utterly disappointed. Even though the turn of events means a big promotional boost for the film and its director Junji Sakamoto, who has garnered quite some international awards and invited the media to the FCCT to make his point.
„We are very sorry that we can’t play this film at this fest — since it’s shot in Thailand,” Sakamoto told the FCCT. “We were very ready to edit the film to cater for the censorship in Thailand. The festival had actually asked us to bring the film without any cuts. Original films can be played at the festival, they said.”
What went wrong? Explains producer Yukiko Shiii, ironically: “The film is that bad, in Japan it first got a R-15 rating for children older than 15. Then it was rated as a PG-12. Under parents’ guidance children older than twelve are allowed to see it in Japan.”
In short: What kids in Japan are legally allowed to see is to hard to swallow for grown up Thais.
Shiii: “You’ll find more sensational images everywhere on the internet, they’re that widespread. The film is nothing in comparison to that. We just wanted to show people how reality really looks.”
There’s even more patronizing to it. The semi-official uninvite came from the Ministry of Tourism, says director Sakamoto: “In August we were invited, on Sept. 17 we were uninvited. They used a tricky way. Said we didn’t have the proper permissions.”
Said that “we’d filmed something that is hidden. We just tried to open up the issues,” says directer Sakamoto. “We got all the visas and permissions needed. There is nothing unlawful.”
Producer Masaomi Karasaki wants to cry, but laughs off the Thai powers that be politely: “Every foreign film producer must get an approval from the Thai authorities to shoot here. Our first request was denied. We then proposed it to be a joint production between Thailand and Japan. Many foreign movies do that. So we got the permissions of all the authorities. And the film became a huge success in Japan. We didn’t expect this.”
Sakamoto, Shiii, Karasaki, they again and again emphasize how sorry they are that the film is rejected in Thailand. Director Sakamoto: “I wanted to see the reactions of the Thai people when they see the movie. How they feel. I’m very sorry not to see those reactions.”
“This film must be shown to all of the world,“ reads an earlier statement, „especially in Thailand for the children’s future. To stop this film is the same as shutting children’s futures, also shutting the future in the country.”
Producer Karasaki: “We expected an open Thailand. But this film is not just about Thailand. It’s about the whole region, helping people on the outside to understand the problem.”
What problem?!
Explains
Wise Kwai of the Thai Film Journal:
„(…) the old ways still cling. While the festival may be programd by some hip indie filmmakers who’d like to shake things up, Thailand’s establishment is still predominantly conservative with leanings toward authoritarianism. Which is why they felt they had to ban a film like Children of the Dark.“
No glossy brochure movie, but a “drama full of pain,” says producer Karasaki.
Raising the question — yes, it’s related to the topic: Ever wondered how many psychiatrists you’ll find in Thailand.
The mental and psychological seems to be of lesser relevance in a country where people are forced to endure more mental stress and deprivation of comfort than in a more developed place.
Not begging the question, and no, psychiatry doesn’t relate to diseases of affluence.
It’s a tough search though to find psychiatrists in Thailand — as psychological and mental needs are considered unfavorable, read: unprofitable and are therefore denied, ignored, brushed off.
Same with Children in the Dark. Denied, ignored, brushed off.
Of all things in this country adoring her children.
More on Children in the Dark @
Wise Kwai’s Film Journal
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