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‘Friday Saturday Sunday’: Thai student film at Osaka Asian Film Festival

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2023

Good news for the Thai film industry arrived early in 2023, with four local films being selected to compete and be screened at the 2023 Osaka Asian Film Festival from March 10-19.

Two of the nominated films are already well-known: “4 Kings” by director Puttipong Nakthong tells the story of wars between vocational students in the ’90s, and “OMG” by director Thitipong Kerdtongtawee, a romantic drama of a man who keeps falling in love with women who are already taken.

The other two are lesser known but carry the same level of quality: “You & Me & Me” by twin directors Wanweaw & Weawwan Hongvivatana, is about the love triangle between a man and two win sisters. The film just premiered on February 9.

The other is “Friday Saturday Sunday” by new director Pobmek Jullakarin, who recently graduated from Faculty of Communication Arts, Chulalongkorn University.

Winner of the Digital Forum Award at the 26th Thai Short Film & Video Festival held last year by the Thai Film Archive and Thai Film Foundation, “Friday Saturday Sunday” portrays problems faced by Thai teenagers during the turning point of their life.

The Question

The plot is based on a simple question that you will find on any form: Who do you choose as your emergency contact? The film asks will it be your parents, boyfriend or close friend?

“The answer for our teenage protagonist ‘Ning’ might not be as simple as you think,” the director said, adding that this question also makes Ning doubt her relationship with each person who is close to her.

Ning was reluctant to put her parents’ names on the emergency contact list, as this “emergency” could mean something bad or embarrassing that she does not want her parents to know.

She was also not sure about putting her boyfriend’s name, as he may not be able to help her in all situations.

The film chronicles the events over three days before Ning must leave home to attend college in Bangkok. Each passing day shows the relationship with her close friend “Pan” who shares her love for films, her boyfriend who is also leaving for the same college but will be in a different faculty, and her parents, who appear to be guarding a family secret.

Pobmek did not hide the fact that this movie was inspired by the works of South Korean director Hong Sang-soo both in terms of taste and direction. Most of Hong’s movies are about lovers’ relationships portrayed via slow moving images with low camera movement and intermittent zooming in and out, while the film progresses mainly by conversational dialogue.

Pobmek believes this technique is able to convey the character’s complex emotions without manipulating the viewers. He also loves that most of Hong’s films star Kim Min-hee, his real-life lover.

The director’s tribute to his idol were displayed in “Friday Saturday Sunday” via the conversations between Ning and Pan. The two close friends are seen playfully yet extensively exchanging their reviews of several iconic films, including those made by Hong and Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill Volume 2”.

One of “Friday Saturday Sunday’s” charms is Ning’s clumsiness, which contradicts her selfishness, and makes the viewer want to smack her instead of sympathising with her.

During the film, we learn that some of Ning’s problems are caused by her own actions, like forcing her boyfriend to keep a promise he made without caring about him and his life changes.

At home, Ning feels oppressed by her parents, who are apparently keeping things from her, making her feel powerless and unable to deal with those around her. This ultimately makes her act out and make a fool of herself in the viewers’ eyes. In reality though, Ning is only facing the same challenges as other teenagers do during this turning point in their lives.

No distance left to run

“Friday Saturday Sunday” was first screened at the Kangjor 29 Film Festival at Bangkok’s Lido Cinema. The event featured the screening of over 20 films made by graduating students of Faculty of Communication Arts, Chulalongkorn University.

The theme of Kangjor 29 was to portray the uncertainty of new graduates’ future as they get ready to leave university and become full-time adults at a time when the world faces big uncertainties in terms of the economy, politics and the global pandemic.

Film students were urged to dig deep into their feelings in response to the society’s expectations to see them standing on their own two feet. As a result, some films portray teenagers’ sadness and melancholy, as if they were journeying through a dark tunnel with no sight of light at the end.

“Friday Saturday Sunday” was made along this very theme, but focused on portraying an introduction to the problems of life that teenagers face as they grow up.

The last scene shows Ning getting on a van leaving for Bangkok with her boyfriend chasing from a distance. She quietly closes the window blinds, as she tries to figure out how to deal with her problems.

The film ends without offering any answers, solutions or even an exit – a perfect reflection of the state of mind of most modern teenagers are desperately looking for answers, solutions and exits.

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Harry Styles triumphs with most wins at the Brit Awards

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2023

Harry Styles was the big winner at the BRIT awards, Britain’s pop music honours, on Saturday, winning all four categories he had been nominated in, a week after his triumph at the Grammys.

Styles took home the coveted album of the year for “Harry’s House,” song of the year for his synth-pop hit “As It Was,” best pop/R&B act and artist of the year, one of two gender-neutral categories introduced last year after BRIT awards organizers got rid of female and male distinctions.

The contenders for that prize were all men, which had irked many in the industry and on social media.

“I’m really, really grateful for this and I’m very aware of my privilege up here tonight,” Styles said in his acceptance speech, dedicating the artist of the year award to a list of female singers.

Styles, who rose to fame on the talent show “The X Factor” as a member of the boy band One Direction, last week won two Grammy awards, including album of the year.

“This night has been really special to me…Thank you so much for the welcome home,” Styles said on Saturday after his final win, for best album. “I’m so, so proud to be a British artist out there in the world. I’m so proud to be here tonight celebrating British artists and British music.”

A statement on the BRIT Awards’ website said the gender-neutral categories had been introduced so artists were judged “solely on the quality and popularity of their work, rather than on who they are, or how they choose to identify.”

But it added that organizers “acknowledge and share in the disappointment” of no women making the list. “A key factor is that, unfortunately, there were relatively few commercially successful releases by women in 2022 compared to those by men.”

Indie rockers Wet Leg won group of the year and best new artist. Music star Beyonce was named international artist of the year and her hit “Break My Soul” won international song of the year.

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YG’s next big thing: Baby Monster members unveiled

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2023

South Korea’s YG Entertainment is gearing up to debut its first new girl group in seven years, Baby Monster, and has unveiled the last member of the seven-piece band this week.

Just like the label’s previous hit group Blackpink, Baby Monster is a multinational group. There are three Koreans, two hailing from Thailand and two from Japan.

Since the band was first announced on Jan. 1, YG has disclosed information about the new group in gradual stages. Here, we take a deeper look into Baby Monster to get an idea of what we can expect from YG.

Haram of Baby Monster (YG Entertainment)

Haram (15, Korea)

First to be announced was Haram, a 15-year-old South Korean member. She is known to have begun her training at YG in 2017.

On Jan. 12, YG unveiled a black-and-white video of Haram singing Mario’s “Let Me Love You” in her own style. Here, her vocal prowess truly shines as she soulfully sings along with the piano tunes.

Her wide vocal range is especially notable, and the agency said Haram showed “the essence of a YG vocalist” through her live performance. After the video’s release, fans described her voice as a mix of Blackpink’s Rose and Jisoo.

Ahyeon of Baby Monster (YG Entertainment)

Ahyeon (15, Korea)

One of the most anticipated members of the septet, Ahyeon was the second to be unveiled. The 15-year-old Korean is known to have joined YG in February 2018 through an audition.

She has been striving to become a K-pop artist for quite a long time now. She is known to have been accepted to JYP Entertainment in 2017 when she was only 11 years old. In the same year, she also passed the first audition for YG Entertainment.

Touted as an “all-rounder” by YG and the fans, Ahyeon shows exceptional strengths in rapping, singing and dancing. In a video released by YG, she sings Saweetie & Galxara’s “Sway With Me,” dancing and singing to the fast tempo track while exuding an aura of confidence. Her powerful vocals match her bold gestures and assertive rapping, proving that she is indeed the “all-rounder.” Fans expect Ahyeon to be like Jennie of Blackpink.

Chiquita of Baby Monster (YG Entertainment)

Chiquita (13, Thailand)

Chiquita is one of Baby Monster’s Thai members. Born in 2009, The 13-year-old is the youngest member of not only Baby Monster, but among all female K-pop musicians to have debuted.

On Jan. 24, YG released a video of Chiquita performing JJ Lin’s “Bedroom (feat. Anne-Marie).” She catches listeners’ ears with her deep, soulful voice, expressing the subtle emotions felt after a painful heartbreak. Despite her young age, Chiquita shows mastery over her own voice, using different vocal registers and techniques effortlessly onstage.

Asa of Baby Monster (YG Entertainment)

Asa (16, Japan)

Asa is the first Japanese member unveiled from YG.

Born in 2006, Asa was introduced through a performance video of Joyner Lucas’ “Look Alive (Remix).” In the video, Asa sings in a uniquely deep and husky voice. She can sing in a magnificent falsetto while also exuding a hip-hop vibe — the essence of any YG group.

Much about Asa still remains under wraps, but fans have high expectations for the member as she also showed potential as a powerful dancer through Baby Monster’s dance performance video.

Rora of Baby Monster (YG Entertainment)

Rora (14, Korea)

Rora is the youngest Korean member. Born in 2008, Rora is actually an experienced K-pop musician. Rora was previously part of a local kids’ idol group called U.sso Girl, which girl group NewJeans’ Hyein was also a part of.

In her performance video of Kiana Lede’s “Forfeit (feat. Lucky Daye),” Rora boasts a low-toned, mature voice that touches deep into the listener’s heart. The slow beat of the melody brought the spotlight more onto the eloquence of her voice as she grooved through the song.

Pharita of Baby Monster (YG Entertainment)

Pharita (17, Thailand)

The 17-year-old Thai native is fluent in both Thai and English, having attended an international school from a young age in Thailand, according to YG. After years of studying, she can also communicate in Korean as well.

In her performance video, Pharita rolls out her live version of Sam Fischer and Demi Lovato’s “What Other People Say.” Her clear, ethereal voice was simple yet mesmerizing. Many fans have commented that her singing style is reminiscent of other YG Entertainment female singers.

Ruka (20, Japan)

The eldest member of the group, Ruka, is a 20-year-old hailing from Japan.

Ruka has been a YG trainee the longest among the seven members, according to the label. She is fluent in Japanese and Korean and has shown talent in rap-making in both languages. She is also known to have experience as a kid idol in her home country.

The final member to be unveiled by YG, Ruka’s presence stood out among all the others. On stage, her swag-filled performance demonstrated immense dominance and charisma. She delivered the lyrics immaculately, performing the raps as if they were her own.

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Disney to lay off 7,000 workers in major restructuring

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2023

Walt Disney Co on Wednesday announced a sweeping corporate restructuring that will result in 7,000 people losing their jobs as part of an effort to achieve $5.5 billion in cost savings.

The layoffs represent an estimated 3.6% of Disney’s global workforce.

The media company, which is under pressure to turn a profit from its global streaming business, said it would reorganize into three segments: an entertainment unit that encompasses film, television and streaming; a sports-focused ESPN unit; and Disney parks, experiences and products.

The company said the restructuring would streamline operations, making its business more efficient, and reducing costs. Disney is the latest media company to announce job cuts in response to slowing subscriber growth and increased competition for streaming viewers. Disney earlier reported its first quarterly decrease in subscriptions for its Disney+ streaming media unit which lost more than $1 billion.

Warner Bros Discovery Inc and Netflix Inc previously underwent layoffs.

The last time Disney made cuts was during the height of the pandemic, when it announced in November 2020 that it would lay off 32,000 workers, primarily at its theme parks. The cuts took place in the first half of fiscal 2021.

Disney said it planned to cut $2.5 billion in sales and general administrative expenses and other operating costs, an effort that is already underway. Another $3 billion in savings would come from reductions in non-sports content, including layoffs.

CEO Bob Iger outlined the cost-cutting plan to investors during the company’s fiscal first-quarter earnings call, in which Disney reported adjusted earnings per share of 99 cents, ahead of the average analyst estimate of 78 cents, according to Refinitiv data.

Net income came in at $1.279 billion, below analyst estimates of $1.429 billion. Revenue hit $23.512 billion, ahead of Wall Street estimates of $23.4 billion.

The reorganization marks a new chapter in the leadership of Iger, whose first tenure as CEO began in 2005. He went on to fortify Disney with a roster of powerful entertainment brands, acquiring Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Entertainment and Lucasfilm. A decade later, Iger repositioned the company to capitalize on the streaming revolution, acquiring 21st Century Fox‘s film and television assets in 2019 and launching the Disney+ streaming service that falls.

Iger stepped down as CEO in 2020 but returned to the role in November 2022.

Now, Iger will seek to put Disney’s streaming business on a path to growth and profitability. The new structure also makes good on Iger’s promise to restore decision-making to the company’s creative leaders, who will determine what movies and series to make and how the content will be distributed and marketed.

This marks Disney’s third restructuring in five years. It reorganized its business in 2018 to accelerate the growth of its streaming business, and again in 2020, to further spur streaming’s growth.

Reuters

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Beyonce breaks all-time Grammy wins record, Harry Styles claims album prize

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 06, 2023

THE NATION

Pop superstar Beyonce broke the record for most career wins at music’s Grammy awards on Sunday (February 5) but lost again in the prestigious album of the year category, this time to British singer Harry Styles.

Beyonce added four Grammys to her collection, bringing her lifetime total to 32 and surpassing the tally of late classical conductor Georg Solti.

Despite her success through the years, the 41-year-old “Break My Soul” singer has never claimed the best album trophy. Styles took home that honor on Sunday for “Harry’s House.”

“I’ve been so inspired by every artist in this category,” a surprised Styles said as he accepted the award. “On nights like tonight, it’s obviously so important for us to remember that there is no such thing as best in music.”

Grammy voters spread the top awards among several artists.

Lizzo’s upbeat “About Damn Time” won record of the year.

She dedicated the award to Prince, saying the late artist had inspired her to make positive music. Lizzo also saluted Beyonce and recalled how she skipped out of school in fifth grade to see the “Halo” singer in concert.

“You clearly are the artist of our lives,” Lizzo said.

Adele accepts the award for Best Pop Solo Performance for “Easy On Me” during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Blues singer Bonnie Raitt’s “Just Like That,” about an organ donor, earned song of the year.

Styles triumphed over a formidable, wide-ranging field that included Beyonce, Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny, Lizzo, British vocalist Adele and disco-era Swedish hitmaker ABBA.

Beyonce took the stage as she secured the all-time Grammy record with her award for best dance/electronic album for “Renaissance.”

“I am trying not to be too emotional. I am trying just to receive this night,” Beyonce said. “I want to thank God for protecting me. Thank you, God.”

She also thanked her family and “the queer community for your love and for inventing the genre.”

Beyonce accepts the award for Best Dance/Electronic Music Album for “Renaissance” during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Earlier, Beyonce was absent when she was named the winner of best R&B song for “Cuff It.” Host Trevor Noah said the singer was stuck in traffic. He later handed her the trophy at her seat in the audience.

Bad Bunny took home the award for best música urbana album for “Un Verano Sin Ti.” For best rap album, Kendrick Lamar triumphed with “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers.”

Honorees were chosen by roughly 11,000 members of the Recording Academy.

Harry Styles accepts the Album Of The Year award for “Harry

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Lisa moves into her new $6-million luxury pad in Seoul

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2023

Lalisa “Lisa” Manoban is the proud new owner of a luxury villa in Seoul’s super-trendy Seongbuk-dong area worth approximately 200 million baht (US$6 million).

The Thai member of K-pop outfit BlackPink is now neighbours with millionaires and celebrities including Bae Yong-joon and Lee Seung Gi.

Overlooking South Korea’s capital, the exclusive Seongbuk-dong neighbourhood has been compared with the star-strewn Hollywood Hills district of Los Angeles and is home to many of the richest people in the country.

Lisa signed the contract for the 7,200-square-foot villa worth some 7.5 billion South Korean won in July last year.

She made the final payment on her new pad on January 30.

The three-storey villa is well known as the former home of Jang Seon-yoon, the billionaire granddaughter of Lotte Corporation founder Shin Kyuk Ho.

Jang Seon-yoon purchased the land in 2014, guiding construction of the luxury villa which was completed in April 2016. Jang’s family lived in the home for nearly seven years.

Lisa still has plenty of money in the bank despite blowing 200 million baht on the pad.

Thailand’s K-pop queen owns total assets estimated at 660 million baht ($20 million). She recently obtained a so-called Black Card – a premium credit card limited to only 1,000 owners worldwide.

The credit card is issued by Korean conglomerate Hyundai and carries an unlimited credit limit. Lisa met the Black Card eligibility conditions, which include spending of 280,000 baht and assets worth at least 10 billion South Korean won (280 million baht).

Related stories:

Twitter users find BlackPink’s Lisa 2nd most beautiful

‘True Angel’ Lisa dazzles social media with sparkling jewellery

BlackPink’s Lisa: MTV award highly meaningful to me

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CDs still hold sway in streaming era in Japan

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 01, 2023

Forty years after the release of the first compact disc, CD sales are still alive in Japan, despite the proliferation of online streaming services.

In the heyday of CDs, people hailed their ease of use compared to other music formats, but now they are likely to be purchased as a way for fans to show their support for an artist, or prized as collector’s items.

Billy Joel’s “52nd Street” and Eiichi Otaki’s “A Long Vacation” were among the first CDs to be released in Japan on Oct. 1, 1982.

At 12 centimetres in diameter, CDs were more compact and lighter than the popular analogue audio format they would eventually overtake, vinyl records, which are usually 30 centimetres in diameter.

Another benefit of compact discs is that the format solved the problem of crackles, pops and hiss associated with analogue audio sources such as tape and vinyl.

Philips and Sony were involved in the development of CD technology and wrestled over the specifications of the format. Philips wanted CDs to hold 60 minutes of recorded music and have a diameter of 11.5 centimetres. Meanwhile, Sony insisted the format should have a diameter of 12 centimetres and hold 75 minutes of music so that Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 could be recorded on one disc.

Although other types of compact discs have been developed over the years, such as 8-centimetre discs and Blu-spec CDs that can hold audio of higher fidelity, standard discs have not changed since the original specification was settled, and the format is still kicking 40 years on.

“It proves that the specs that were initially decided were not wrong,” said Hirofumi Nakayama, Vice President of Sony Music Studios Tokyo. “The sound quality suits human ears. That’s why they’ve been loved for so long.”

Cases containing mini audio CDs, which are 8 centimetres in diameter .The Yomiuri Shimbun

According to the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ), the CD market overtook analogue records in 1987 and hit a peak of about ¥587.8 billion in 1998. Since then, CD sales have gradually fallen partly because of the emergence of online music distribution. In 2021, the market was worth about ¥123.2 billion, about one-fifth of the peak value.

While streaming music services have gained popularity around the world in recent years, the appeal of physical music formats such as CDs has continued in Japan.

Compact discs and records accounted for about 10% of music revenue in the United States in 2021, according to data from the Recording Industry Association of America. In contrast, CDs, records and other physical formats accounted for about 70% in Japan, having more than doubled compared to that of digital formats, according to the RIAJ.

To tempt the fans of the pop stars and K-pop groups that dominate music charts, music labels often release multiple versions of a CD with different jackets or track lists or come with event tickets.

Meanwhile, CDs that contain songs that are not on streaming services are fetching high prices in the second-hand market.

Tower power
Over the years, Tower Records Japan Inc. has changed the layout of its shop floors to fit the times. Initially, the retail chain sold CDs and records in the same section, but by around 1988, compact discs had replaced most of the vinyl.

In the 1990s, the chain mainly operated mega-stores with large inventories and a wide range of genres, but in the 2000s, the chain rolled out smaller stores inside shopping malls nationwide, specializing in popular Japanese artists.

Since the start of the 2010s, the chain has targeted die-hard fans with eye-catching signs and corners where shoppers can take selfies. Some of the stores even have stages where musicians can hold mini-concerts.

“Consumers value CDs for reasons other than music, particularly in Japan,” said Masato Hasegawa, General Manager of the Retail Business Division of Tower Records Japan. “The market still exists.”

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Top K-pop idols to return from military this year

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2023

Many Top K-pop idols now return back to their group after serving approximately 18 to 22 months of duty to embark on a fresh new journey.

All able-bodied South Korean men are obligated to serve in the military, with even the biggest K-pop superstars no exception.

Unlike in the past, this year greets a string of K-pop musicians from big groups returning to civilian society.

Victon’s Han Seung-woo, also the brother of singer-turned-actor Han Sun-hwa, is first ready for release. The eldest member of the six-piece act, Seung-woo enlisted in July 2021 and is currently serving in the military band. Seung-woo is set to be discharged on Jan. 27.

In February, Exo’s Baekhyun comes out next. Baekhyun began his service in May 2021 as the fifth of nine bandmates to enlist. Baekhyun was assigned to be a social service agent instead of an active-duty soldier due to hypothyroidism. With Baekhyun set to complete his service on Feb. 5, fans expect Exo to make its long-awaited full-group comeback, as Suho, the group’s leader, posted not-so-cryptically on social media on Jan. 1: “2023 Exo is coming back.”

Baekhyun’s labelmate of SM Entertainment, Taemin of Shinee is set to complete his service on April 4. Taemin initially began his service in the military band but was transferred to reservist duty about a year ago owing to mental health issues. In a statement released by SM, Taemin had reportedly been suffering from depression and anxiety from before his enlistment and the symptoms worsened after he began his service. Anticipations for Shinee’s complete comeback as a quartet are also climbing high with Taemin’s discharge.

Day6’s Young K (left) and Wonpil (JYP Entertainment)

Two members of Day6 are set to complete their duties this year, with Young K being discharged first on April 11. In October 2021, Young K began his service in the Korean Augmentation to the US Army, as the first idol musician to enlist in the very selective branch. In March, Wonpil followed suit by enlisting in the Navy, also as the first idol musician to serve in that branch. Wonpil is slated to be discharged on Nov. 27.

Monsta X leader Shownu is set to finish his service on April 21. He will be the first member of the six-piece act to fulfil his duty. Shownu enlisted in July 2021 as a public service worker due to health issues regarding his left eye.

In June, just as with their enlistment a year and a half ago, the group ONF is set to be discharged together. In December 2021, the whole group — barring its only non-Korean member U, who is from Japan — enlisted together in the Army, becoming the first group to do so. Unexpectedly, the group gained more fame inside the military. A video of the five performing during a military-organized event caught the public eye and went explosively viral on the internet. The boy band is set to make a comeback with its summer discharge.

ONF (WM Entertainment)

September will see several K-pop stars leave the military. SF9’s Inseong and Block B’s P.O are serving in the military band, Inseong in the Army until Sept. 20 and P.O in the Marine Corps until Sept. 27. Golden Child’s leader Lee and SF9’s leader Young-bin are to be discharged together on Sept. 28.

Along with Day6’s Wonpil, Astro’s MJ is to end his service in November.

The Korea Herald

Asia News Network

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Children of the Mist: The Bride-Kidnapping Festival

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2023

Sasawat Boonsri

Amid the sea of white mist on Vietnam’s northern plateau, film director Ha Le Diem spent three years assimilating with a local Hmong family, using only a camera and audio recorder to document their daily lives in an actual, unscripted setting.

For what is supposed to be a simple documentary film, Diem found herself praying that nothing bad should happen to Di, the family’s 12-year-old daughter, who she had befriended during her stay.

Growing up in Vietnamese-Hmong society and witnessing three of her female friends get married at a young age, Diem has always questioned how this tradition of girls marrying young had come to play an important role in the Hmong community.

The family that allowed Diem to stay with them to shoot the film comprised the father, who rarely worked but often drank, a talkative mother who shared her humour and worries with Diem, Di, and her younger sister. As the movie progresses, we learn that Di has an older sister who had earlier married and left the house in what could be described as bride kidnapping, in which young girl is coerced through the stigma of pregnancy and rape to marry her abductor.

In the first half hour of the film, viewers are introduced to the folk ways of the Hmong ethnic people in Sa Pa province in Northwestern Vietnam. Like most Southeast Asian rural communities, villagers here mainly engage in agriculture and animal farming, mostly chicken and swine, while the popular mode of transport is motorcycles due to the uneven hilly terrain.

The plot thickens when Di, the 12-year-old protagonist, starts playing with the fire of passion. On Chinese New Year day, she spends a night at the house of a boy her age, whom she had met at school and with whom she had exchanged chats and selfie photos via mobile phones.

After that night, Di was considered “kidnapped” by the boy’s family and therefore must marry him, according to Hmong tradition.

A problem arises when the boy’s family later asks for Di’s hand in marriage, but she refuses, saying she was not in love with him and had agreed to spend the night only because she was “curious”. Little did she know the repercussions of her decision.

To preserve the tradition, Di’s parents force her to accept the proposal against her will, prompting her to turn to her school teacher for help. The situation escalates as other teachers and city councillors join in to deliberate on the issue. Though Vietnam prohibits marriage of persons under 18 without their consent, Hmong tradition seems to supersede the law.

The day after the council meeting, relatives of the “groom’s” family charge into Di’s house and drag her away to the boy’s house to make her his bride. The sight of the commotion becomes too heartbreaking for Diem, who briefly forgets to keep her distance as a silent observer, and tries to help the young girl.

Questioning the tradition

The film urges viewers to question the morality behind the bride-kidnapping tradition of the Hmong people, while highlighting the pain of the girl’s family which is clearly at a disadvantage in this tradition.

Di’s mother was also once a “kidnapped” bride who has had to live with an abusive drunken husband throughout her marriage. Viewers can easily predict that if Di were to accept the boy’s proposal against her will, she would unavoidably suffer the same fate as her mother and that of many other Hmong women.

However, educated viewers should beware of the differences in culture and tradition when using their lens to judge other societies.

Many viewers questioned why Di’s family was forcing marriage on the young girl, when the couple clearly did not love each other. The inaction of Di’s mother, who cries when she learns that her daughter was “kidnapped” but later lets the groom’s family take her away, has baffled several viewers.

Prominent Thai historian Prof Nidhi Eoseewong once said that maintaining their “face” in society and following socially accepted practices are of the highest priority for families in several Southeast Asian cultures.

He said the ties among family members are woven together by traditions, and the folk ways are designed to keep the society running. Since ancient times, activities such as transplanting rice paddy and building a house cannot be done by a single person or family, but they rely on the help of community members. Marriage between villagers also serves as a way to expand the workforce and strengthen the community.

Since the community has been built around these traditions, those wandering off the accepted folkways are often meted out punishments, ranging from being gossiped about, shunned, or even excommunicated. This is the major difference between an ethnic community and a civilised society, where individuality is respected and often celebrated.

Clash of traditional vs modern thinking

In a crucial scene when Di turns to her school teacher for asylum, her mother intervenes and orders the girl to come home, shrugging off the teacher’s protest that Di should at least finish her schooling before getting married, for better career opportunities. This scene reflects the inner conflict of Di’s mother, who deep down does not agree with the marriage of her young girl but chooses not to break the tradition to save the family’s face in the community.

The movie compares two concepts of the old and new eras. On the one hand we have traditions that have been observed maintaining order in society for generations, and on the other hand modern parents realise that education could be the foundation of a better future for their children.

It might come to a surprise to many viewers that in the eyes of the Hmong people, marriage is more important than completing compulsory education. Some Hmong parents view education as an uncertain path as finishing school does not always guarantee a good career or good future, unlike marrying into a family that is wealthy, or is at least doing better than their own. Many families, despite giving basic education to their children, end up shipping them off to work in China to support the family.

Since people in these remote communities rarely experience the tangible benefits of education, they tend to stick to existing traditions which at least have proven to serve their lives well in the past. This is a tricky issue that humanitarian organisations must consider before providing help.

Conclusion

The film ends with Di eventually being spared the traditional marriage to a man she does not love — a relief for me and other viewers. I believe that she will not be the last victim of this marriage-by-abduction tradition, which is still present in the Hmong community, in sharp contrast with the modern world that values a person’s consent. This film has truly inspired viewers to question the clash of values of the old and the new worlds.

“Children of the Mist” is being screened at the Bangkok Asean Film Festival 2022 from January 20-25 at Paragon Cineplex and SF World Cinema in Bangkok. Don’t fret if you miss the festival, as the publisher, Documentary Club, will be bringing the film to theatres soon.

Sasawat Boonsri

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/lifestyle/entertainment/40024170

Baldwin charged in ‘Rust’ shooting, others indicted

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023

A New Mexico prosecutor on Thursday charged actor Alec Baldwin and others in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during the filming of Western “Rust.”

District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies announced involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin and the film’s armourer after more than a year of investigation into the October 2021 shooting on a film set outside Santa Fe.

Assistant director David Halls has signed a plea agreement for the charge of the negligent use of a deadly weapon, the prosecutor said in a statement.

“After a thorough review of the evidence and the laws of the state of New Mexico, I have determined that there is sufficient evidence to file criminal charges against Alec Baldwin and other members of the ‘Rust’ film crew,” Carmack-Altwies said. “On my watch, no one is above the law, and everyone deserves justice.”

Baldwin and armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed will each be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, she said.

Under New Mexico law, involuntary manslaughter is a fourth-degree felony and is punishable by up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Hutchins was killed when a revolver Baldwin was rehearsing with during filming in New Mexico fired a live round that hit her and movie director Joel Souza, who survived.

The sheriff’s office focused on how live rounds got onto a movie set and how they were loaded into a firearm.

Baldwin has denied responsibility for Hutchins’ death and said live rounds should never have been allowed onto the set of the low-budget movie. Baldwin said he was told the gun was “cold,” an industry term meaning it is safe to use.

In a 2021 television interview, the actor told ABC News he did not pull the trigger of the replica Pietta .45-caliber long Colt revolver and it fired after he cocked it while rehearsing camera angles with Hutchins.

An FBI forensic test of the single-action revolver found it “functioned normally” and would not fire without the trigger being pulled.

Carmack-Altwies last year hired a special prosecutor and received $318,000 in state funds to pursue what she believed would be high-profile, costly jury trials should charges be filed.

New Mexico’s worker safety agency in April fined the film’s production company the maximum amount possible for what it described as “willful” safety lapses leading to Hutchin’s death.

The agency found Rust Move Productions LLC knew firearm safety procedures were not being followed and showed “plain indifference” to the hazards.

Reuters