absolutelyBangkok archive · Culture & Arts
Originally published Sept. 29, 2008
Following video was kind of orphaned for some time in our BKK Vids section. It’s worth a very close look though. It deserves an own post. Watch it. Study it. Decode it.
Who’s the actress? No clue. The video was shot by Maurice Spees, a Dutch filmmaker based in Thailand, at a street performance in Bangkok. Capturing pure Thai depth psychology.
The performance “was suddenly interrupted by this woman stealing the show,” says Maurice. “Nobody knew who she was, but she was to good to chase away.” What she’s telling us?
Her kreng jai
-induced seizure sheds some light on the too many sudden twists and turns of life over here. Smile and say yes and be a good daughter and son — until the pitcher that went so often to the well is broken at last.
After a momentary lapse of control though she goes on, smiling, seemingly unshaken — until the next seizure.
Amazing performance — and says Maurice: “This was completely improvised, not rehearsed.”
Days after seeing the video for the first time I was sure I saw the woman near Erawan Shrine. Wanted to ask her, but hesitated. Have seen “her” many times since then. She’s here and there and everywhere, just stay alert.
From the absolutelyBangkok archive. Back to all stories