New Asian Currents Juror
Pimpaka Towira
[Juror’s Statement]
“Life is a Movie” might sound like a good slogan for some digital video camera advertising campaign. But how could life be a movie?
In the era of digital revolution, we have witnessed how life through digital tools has become a new kind of entertainment—from reality TV in your home television to pictures of your friends, girlfriends, boyfriends or even yourself on the mobile phone. Fragments of life have become movie scenes that we can make and select at anytime.
Ultimately, the sensitivity of human compassion, sympathy and concern have shifted to become elements of producing a new form of life-like cinema.
In this chaos of digital momentum, I’ve wondered as both a filmmaker and a human being how far we can go toward achieving the true value of life. That is, I wish to reach it.
A pioneering female director on the Thai independent film scene, Pimpaka Towira studied film at Thammasat University, and began experimental short films focusing mostly on women’s issues in 1988. Major films include Mae Nak (1997), a deconstruction of a popular Thai ghost story that won a Special Jury Prize at the Image Forum Festival in 1998. Her debut feature, One Night Husband (2003), premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival 2003, and has since been screened at many film festivals. She has also worked as a film writer, curator and lecturer; is actively involved for both the Thai Film Foundation and the Thai Film Director Association; and was the program director for the 4th Bangkok International Film Festival, 2001. |
Unseen Thailand (short version)
THAILAND / 2005 / Thai / Color / Video / 25 min
Director, Script, Editor: Pimpaka Towira
Photography: Nitivat Cholvanichsiri
Sound: Patarapool Wimolsilapin
Production Manager: Praguyfon Ruengdej
Producers: Chalida Uabumrungjit, Pimpaka Towira
Source: Pimpaka Towira
Supinya, 31, is a media reform activist who once dreamed of leading a decent, happy life. That suddenly changed when she was sued for uncovering a media conglomerate’s ties with the Prime Minister. Welcome to Thailand. Not that one in the postcard, but the amazing unseen Thailand, buried deep beneath the smile.
Worldly Desires
KOREA / 2005 / Thai / Color / Video / 42 min
Director, Producer: Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Director of Deep Red Bloody Night: Pimpaka Towira
Script: Sompot Chidgasornpongse, Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Photography: Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Sivaroj Kongsakul, Sayombhu Mukdeeprom
Editing: Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Sompot Chidgasornpongse
Cast: Chanchai Amonthat, Thanatporn Vejchayom, Priya Wongrabeab
Production Company: Kick the Machine
World Sales: Jeonju International Film Festival
This film is an experimental project by director Apichatpong Weerasethakul in which he invited Pimpaka Towira to shoot Deep Red Bloody Night, a love story by day and a song by night in the jungle. It is both a kind of experiment about customs and habits as well as the memories of filmmaking in the jungle from 2001 to 2005. Worldly Desires was presented at the Jeonju International Film Festival 2005 as part of the production, Digital Short Films by Three Filmmakers.