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The cinema of Thailand has a history that stretches back to Early Days Of Filmmaking , when King Chulalongkorn 's 1897 visit to Berne , Switzerland was recorded by Francois-Henri Lavancy-Clarke. The film was then brought to Bangkok , where it was exhibited. This sparked more interest in film by the Thai Royal Family and local businessmen, who brought in filmmaking equipment and started to exhibit foreign films. By the 1920s, a local film industry was started and in the 1930s, the Thai film industry had its first "golden age", with a number of studios producing films. The years after the Second World War saw a resurgence of the industry, which used 16 Mm Film to produce hundreds of films, many of them hard-driving action films. Competition from Hollywood brought the Thai industry to a low point in the 1980s and '90s, but by the end of the '90s, Thailand had its "new wave", with such directors as Nonzee Nimibutr , Pen-Ek Ratanaruang and Apichatpong Weerasethakul as well as action hero Tony Jaa being celebrated at film festivals around the world. For every genre that Hollywood or other film industries offer, there is an example from Thailand that favorably compares. THE FIRST THAI FILMS When Western films first came to Thailand they were called ''nang Farang '', after the Nang Drama ( Shadow Puppet plays) that were a Thai traditional art. The first feature film produced in Thailand was made in 1922 . It was called ''Nang Sao Suwan'', or '' Miss Suwanna Of Siam '', a Hollywood co-production with the State Railway Of Thailand that was directed and scripted by Henry MacRae . It premiered on June 22 , 1923 in Bangkok at the Phathanakorn Cinematograph. Unfortunately, ''Miss Suwanna'' has been lost over the years. The first all-Thai feature was ''Chok Sorng Chan'' (''Double Luck''), produced by the Wasuwat brothers' Bangkok Film Company in 1927 and directed by Manit Wasuwat ( Thai : มานิต วสุวัต). That same year, another film company, Tai Phapphayon Thai Company, produced ''Mai Khit Loei'' (''Unexpected''). Seventeen films were made between 1927 and 1932 , but only fragments have survived, such as a one-minute car chase from ''Chok Sorng Chan'' or a two- to three-minute boxing match from ''Khrai Di Khrai Dai'' (''None But the Brave''). Hollywood would also make Other Movies In Siam during this time, including the Documentary , '' Chang '', by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack , about a poor farmer struggling to carve out a living in the jungle. Robert Kerr, who served as assistant director to Henry MacRae on ''Miss Suwanna'' returned to Siam in 1928 to direct his own film, ''The White Rose''. It was shown in Bangkok in September 1928. THE GOLDEN AGE By 1928 , the first " Talkies " were being imported, providing some heavy competition for the Silent Thai films. In the tradition of the Benshi in Japan, local cinemas had entertaining narrators to introduce the films as well as traditional Thai orchestras that were often as big an audience pleaser as the films themselves, and but within two or three years, silent movies had given way to the talkies. The first Thai sound film was ''Long Thang'' (''Gone Astray''), produced by the Wasuwat brothers, and premiered on April 1 , 1932 . It was a big success and led to the building of the Sri Krung Talkie Film Company in Bang Kapi . It produced three to four films a year. In 1933 , Sri Krung made the first color Thai film, ''Grandpa Som's Treasure'' (''Pu Som Fao Sap''). This period up until 1942 is regarded by scholars as the "Golden Age" for Thai film. As the Second World War loomed, and the country being led by a Dictatorship under Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsonggram film companies were pressed into service to make Propaganda films to whip up Nationalism . Opposition politics found their way into film, too, with statesman Pridi Phanomyong producing '' King Of The White Elephant '', in 1940 . With all the dialogue in English , Pridi hoped to send a message to the outside world that he was unhappy with the militaristic direction his country was taking. The film depicts the story of an ancient Siamese king who only goes to war after he's been attacked. FILM DUBBING The advent of sound raised another problem for cinemas in Thailand: the language of the talkies. Soon a Dubbing method developed in which a dubber would provide a simultaneous translation of the dialogue by speaking Thai into a microphone at the back of the theater. The first Thai dubber was Sin Sibunruang, or "Tit Khiaw", who had worked for Siam Film Company and was the editor of the company's film magazine. Tit Khiaw and other talented dubbers became stars in their own right. They would perform all the roles in the films, both male and female, as well as such sound effects as animal noises, cars and gunfire. Also, there were film companies that could not afford to make sound films, and would make films with the intention that they would be dubbed at screenings by live performers reading from a script. These dubbed films proved as popular as the talkies, especially if the dubber was well known. Due to the extensive use of 16 Mm film in the 1970s, the technique has lasted up until recent years, especially for outdoor screenings of films at temple fairs in rural areas. Examples of a dubber at work can be seen in contemporary Thai films, '' Monrak Transistor '' ( 2000 ) and '' Bangkok Loco '' ( 2004 ). THE 16-MM ERA died while filming the helicopter stunt. His co-star in the film, and scores of others, was leading lady Petchara Chaowarat .]] After the Second World War, filmmaking in Thailand got underway again using 16 Mm color-reversal film, which was easy to obtain and make films with. The vividly colored films were popular with audiences as well, prompting dozens of new filmmakers to enter the business. Similar to the dubbing of films during the pre-war years, some of these films used dubbers to provide dialogue and sound effects as the film was running, further adding to the entertainment value of the movies. From 1947 until 1972 , 16 mm was the industry standard for Thai film production. MOVE TOWARD 35 MM At the height of the 16-mm era, cinematographer and director Rattana Pestonji sought to use 35 Mm film and generally improve the artistic quality of Thai films. Most of his films are regarded today as masterpieces, including '' Santi-Weena '', which was the first Thai film to be entered into international competition, at the 1955 Southeast Asian Film Festival in Tokyo , and 1961 's '' Black Silk '', the first Thai film in competition at the Berlin International Film Festival . Though Rattana made relatively few films, he worked tirelessly to promote the industry, and died in 1970 as he was to make a speech to government officials about setting up a national film agency. THE 1970S AND '80S Thailand saw an explosion of locally produced films during the 1970s after the Thai government imposed a heavy tax on imported films in 1977 , which led to a boycott of Thailand by Hollywood studios. To pick up the slack, 150 Thai films were made in 1978 alone. Many of these films were low-grade action films and were derided by critics and scholars as "nam nao" or "stinking water". But socially conscious films were being made as well, especially by Chatrichalerm Yukol , a US-educated filmmaker and member of the Thai Royal Family , whose own family had been involved with filmmaking since the industry started in Thailand. Among Chatrichalerm's films during the 1970s was ''Khao Chue Karn'' (''Dr. Karn''), which addressed corruption in the Thai Civil Service and was nearly banned under the government of Thanom Kittikachorn . Chatrichalerm also made ''Hotel Angel'' (''Thep Thida Rong Raem''), about a young woman trapped into a life of Prostitution . He made dozens of films along these socially conscious lines through the 1990s , working up to his lavish historical epic, '' The Legend Of Suriyothai '' in 2001 . Another filmmaker active during this time was Vichit Kounavudhi , who made his share of action films as well as more socially conscious works like ''First Wife'', about the custom of men taking "second wives" or "mia noi" - a Euphemism for Mistress . Vichit also made ''Her Name is Boonrawd'' ( 1985 ), about Prostitution around an American Military Airbase during the Vietnam War . Vichit's best known works are two semi-documentary films, ''Mountain People'' (''Khon Phukao''), an adventure tale about a young Hill-tribe couple, and ''Look Isan'' (''Son of the Northeast''), about a family of subsistence farmers in 1930s Isan . Also in 1985, director Yuttana Mukdanasit made '' Pee Seua Lae Dawkmai '' ('' Butterfly And Flower ''), highlighting hardships along the Southern Thailand border. Not only did the film help expose urban Thais to regional poverty, the film broke new ground in its portrayal of a Buddhist - Muslim relationship. It won the Best Film award at the Hawaii International Film Festival . THE THAI NEW WAVE By 1981 , Hollywood studios were once again sending films to Thailand. Also, Television (see also Media In Thailand ) was a growing part of Thai culture. This was a low period for the Thai film industry, and by the mid- 1990s , studio output was averaging about 10 films per year. In the wake of the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997 , three directors of Television Commercials - Nonzee Nimibutr , Pen-Ek Ratanaruang and Wisit Sasanatieng - were thinking that films needed to be more artistic to attract investors and audiences. The first breakthrough was in 1997, with Nonzee's '' Dang Bireley's And The Young Gangsters '' (''2499 Antapan Krong Muang'') and Pen-Ek's '' Fun Bar Karaoke '', both edgy crime films that were hits with local audiences and on the international festival circuit. Nonzee's next film, the ghost story '' Nang Nak '', was an even bigger success, earning 149.6 million Baht - the highest grossing film at the time. Wisit, who wrote screenplays for ''Dang Bireley's'' and ''Nang Nak'', broke out with '' Tears Of The Black Tiger '', a super-stylised Western homage to the Thai action films of the 1960s and '70s. It was the first film to be included on the program at the Cannes Film Festival . There were also the Pang Brothers from Hong Kong , who came to Thailand to make stylish movies, starting with '' Bangkok Dangerous '' and the nod to J-Horror , '' The Eye ''. THAI AVANT GARDE See Also: Apichatpong Weerasethakul With the New Wave directors achieving commercial and artistic success, a new crop of filmmakers has grown up outside the traditional and often restrictive Thai studio system to create experimental short films and features. The leader of this indie movement is Apichatpong Weerasethakul , whose 2002 feature '' Blissfully Yours '' was featured out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival . Featuring a risque sex scene involving a Burmese man and a Thai woman in the jungle, the movie received only limited screenings in Thailand and a Thai-released DVD of the film was censored. Apichatpong's next film, '' Tropical Malady '', featuring a gay romance between an army soldier and a young country boy, was a jury-prize winner at Cannes, and it, too, only received limited screenings in Thailand. Other indie directors to watch include Pramote Sangsorn , Thunska Pansittivorakul and Sompot Chidgasornpongse . CENSORSHIP The 1930 Censorship Code is still in effect today, and places all films, VCD s and DVDs under scrutiny prior to public release. The first board of Censor s included both men and women and was drawn from the ranks of aristocracy, the civil service and the police. Each film passed by the censors had to include a stamp on each reel, and each item of printed advertising had to contain the stamp, too. The National Police was responsible for screening films and videos until September 2005 , when the government's Ministry of Culture took over the function. Every VCD and DVD sold for home viewing must bear a stamp that it has passed the Censorship board. On some VCDs and DVDs produced in Thailand, the censors sometimes take a hard line against depictions of Nudity , Sex , Smoking , the presence of Alcohol and Guns being pointed at people, images that are forbidden on broadcast television. In such instances, the offending images are blurred out electronically, and is so pervasive that the practice has been satirised in at least one film, 2004 's action comedy, '' Jaew '' or '' M.A.I.D. ''. Before the Digital age, scissors and Petroleum Jelly were the tools of the trade for censors. Imported DVDs are generally not altered by the Thai authorities, though the Ministry of Culture's watchdogs do ban items, or at least strongly encourage retailers to not carry them. From the time the Ministry of Culture took over the censorship board until March 2006 , about 40 VCD or DVD titles were banned, though a list of the banned items was not made available. GENRES Action Action films are a predominant genre of Thai film. During the 1960s and '70s, when Mitr Chaibancha and Sombat Metanee were the leading action heroes, hundreds of hard-hitting, explosive features were made. In recent years, the '' and '' Tom-Yum-Goong '', have put Thai action films on the international map. '' Kerd Ma Lui '' (''Born to Fight'') is in the same vein, and gives more exposure to action choreographer Panna Rittikrai , who toiled for decades making low-budget, Direct-to-video action films featuring dangerous stunt choreography. The culture of Thailand's B-movie stuntmen is further examined in the 2005 documentary, '' Crying Tigers '', by Santi Taepanich . Action comedies have also proven to be popular, including 2001's '' Killer Tattoo '' by Yuthlert Sippapak , who cast well-known Thai comedians, including Petchtai Wongkamlao and Thep Po-Ngam , in roles as bumbling hitmen. Animation Thai animation got underway after the Second World War , when artist Sanae Klaikluen was asked by the Thai government to make a short Animated Cartoon that instructed Thai citizens to wear hats and farmers to wear boots. Sanae in turn influenced Payut Ngaokrachang , who made a 1955 short about a traffic cop called ''Haed Mahasajan''. Payut went on to make Thailand's first and only cel-animated feature film, '' The Adventure Of Sudsakorn '', in 1979 . Because of the labor-intensive work involved with animation, it was cheaper for studios to make live-action films, so animation was eschewed. But in recent years, Thailand's technology community has sought to make the country a hub for Computer Animation , with many animated television shows, commercials and video games being created in Thailand. In 2006, Thailand's first computer-animated feature film will be released, '''' and '' Tarzan '' and Blue Sky Studios ' '' Ice Age ''. Although the work is being done on computers, Kompin has faced many of the same difficulties in funding and human resources that Payut faced. Comedies No matter what the genre of Thai film, most films – be they action, horror or romantic dramas, have some element of comedy. One of the classic comedies from the 1960s is called '' Ngern Ngern Ngern '' (''Money, Money, Money''). It starred comedian Lor Tork as a moneylender whose son falls in love with a debtor and ends up taking sides against his father. In 2005, the comedy '' Luang Phii Theng '' (''The Holy Man'') starring comedian Pongsak Pongsuwan as a street hood who poses as a Buddhist monk, was one of the top films at the domestic box office. Crime Most of the films by Pen-Ek Ratanaruang have been Crime Film s, from his debut feature 1997's '' Fun Bar Karaoke '' to 2006's '' Invisible Waves ''. A true-crime film, 2003's '' Macabre Case Of Prom Pirom '' (''Keunbab prompiram'') by veteran director Manop Udomdej , about a 1977 murder-rape of a young woman in a rural village was controversial because the village where the case took place did not want the incident revisited. The film played at many overseas festivals, including the New York Asian Film Festival . Another true-crime case about a cannibalistic serial killer in 1946 Bangkok was depicted in the 2004 film '' Zee-Oui ''. Gay films Katoey ( Transsexual / Transvestite ) or gays are often featured as Comic Relief or Villains in mainstream Thai films, but there have been a number of films that make gays and katoey the main characters. One of the first was Youngyooth Thongkonthun 's '' Satree Lek '', or '' Iron Ladies '', based on a true story about a transsexual/transvestite Gay men's volleyball team that won a national championship in 1996. It was a huge hit on the international festival circuit. The 2000 comedy spawned a sequel in 2003, ''Satree Lek 2''. More loosely based on a true incident was the 2002 film '' Saving Private Tootsie '', which tells the story of a group of gay and kathoey entertainers who are lost rebel-held jungle territory after their plane crashes . A squad from the Thai army, led by a gruff, homophobic sergeant played by veteran actor Sorapong Chatree , goes to the rescue. And the life of Transgendered Muay Thai champion Parinya Kiatbusaba (or Nong Tum) is related in 2003's '' Beautiful Boxer '', directed by Ekachai Uekorngtham . Unlike ''The Iron Ladies'', ''Beautiful Boxer'' was more serious in tone. Even more serious is the 2003 film '' Tropical Malady '', directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul . It depicts a romance between a Thai army soldier and a local small-town boy. The narrative of the film then abruptly shifts in the middle to relate a Folk Tale about a tiger Shaman , with the soldier alone in the jungle, haunted by the tiger-shamen's spirit. The film won a jury prize at the Cannes Film Festival . Apichatpong also co-directed the low-budget digital movie, '' The Adventure Of Iron Pussy '', with artist Michael Shaowanasai , who portrays a transvestite secret agent. A musical, the movie also was an homage and a parody of the Thai films of the 1960s and '70s, with Shaowansai basing his character on the actress Petchara Chaowarat . In 2005, Thai film '' Rainbow Boys '', depicting a contemporary gay relationship, saw a limited-release screening. '', depicts a true story from Thai history.]] Historical epics Another staple of the Thai film industry, the biggest yet was 2003's '' The Legend Of Suriyothai '' by Chatrichalerm Yukol . A followup epic is 2006's '' King Naresuan '', about 16th century ruler King Naresuan The Great . Other epics in recent years include ''''. More recent history is depicted in '' The Overture '', covering the life of a palace musician from the late 1800s to the 1940s, and '' The Tin Mine '', set at a mine in southern Thailand in the 1950s. Horror Nonzee Nimibutr 's '' Nang Nak '' in 1999 was a ghost story that had actually been depicted dozens of times throughout the history of Thai cinema and television. But it gave rise to a new crop of Thai horror and suspense films, including the Pang Brothers ' '' The Eye '', Nonzee's pan-Asian compilation '' Three '', '' Bangkok Haunted '', directed by Pisuth Praesaeng-Iam and Oxide Pang and the 2004 box-office smash '' Shutter '' by Banjong Pisonthanakun and Parkpoom Wongpoom . Examples of slasher movies include '' Art Of The Devil '' and a 2005 sequel, as well as ''Scared'' and ''Narok'' (''Hell''), also in 2005. The horror genre also has spawned a number of genre-blending horror comedies, most notably the films of Yuthlert Sippapak , '' Buppah Rahtree '' (featured at the Toronto International Film Festival ) and a sequel, and '' Krasue Valentine ''. There has even been a Zombie movie, 2004's '' Sars Wars ''. Musicals The biggest hit musical was 1970's '' Mon Rak Lookthung '' (''Magical Love in the Countryside''), starring Mitr Chaibancha and Petchara Chaowarat . It was hugely popular, playing in cinemas for six months. As a result, a whole genre of Luk Thung musicals, rhapsodizing Thailand's rural life in Isan was created. Another example was Dokdin Kanyamarn 's 1971 musical comedy, '' Ai Tui '' (''Mr. Tui''), which starred Sombat Metanee and Petchara. In 2001 there were two movies that celebrated luk thung, the singing-contest comedy '' Monpleng Luk Thung FM '' ('' Hoedown Showdown '') and Pen-Ek Ratanaruang 's, '' Monrak Transistor '', which paid tribute to the music of Suraphol Sombatcharoen . And in 2005, comedian-actor-director Petchtai Wongkamlao wrote, directed and starred in '' Yam Yasothon '', a colorful homage to the 1970s musicals. It was one of top films at the Thai box office. Romance Weepy, sentimental romance stories are audience favorites. Historically, Cherd Songsri 's 1970s film '' Plae Chow '' (''The Scar'') is a classic tale of star-crossed lovers. More recent examples include '''', in which tissues were actually handed out at the cinemas. Childhood romance was a hit with 2003's '' Fan Chan '', which was made by six directors. One of the six, Komgrit Treewimol , went on to make the college-age romance, '' Dear Dakanda '', a hit in 2005. Teen As a genre, teen films arose in the 1970s, with director Piak Poster 's '' Wai Ounlawon '', about a young man whose courtship of a teenaged girl puts him at odds with the girl's irascible father. That young couple, portrayed by the original actors, were revisited 30 years later as embattled parents in the 2005 sequel, '' Wai Ounlawon 4 '' ('' Oops ... There's Dad ''). Music was an important component of the teen films, with a musical interlude featured prominently in the film and a soundtrack album that would be a popular hit. This was the case with both '' Wai Ounlawon '' and its recent sequel. FESTIVALS AND AWARDS Film festivals
Film awards
NOTABLE THAI FILM PEOPLE was a popular Thai actress in the 1970s.]] Actors See Also: List of Thai actors
Actresses See Also: List of Thai actresses
Directors See Also: List of Thai film directors
Producers
NOTABLE THAI FILMS See Also: List of Thai films
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