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"Blissfully yours" Apichatpong Weeerasethakul
Sendai Mediatheque 21 June, 2003
AICHI ARTS CENTER 12 September, 2003
Institut franco-japonais de Tokyo 13, 14, 20, 21 September, 2003
In recent years, there has been a nationwide crackdown on illegall Burmese Immigrants
in Thailand. This has deeply affected the Burmese community in the country, many
of whom had crossed the border to find a better life by seeking employment in
tthe Thai labor market. Some have also developed close relationships with Thai
people. This is the political background of Blissfully Yours, the second film
by Apichatpong Weerasethakul.
Even though the town in this film seems peaceful on the surface, the boredom,
hidden emotional conflicts, and communication diferences, produce psychological
tensions between the protagonists of the story. The main character is a Burmese
refugee whose fate has linked him to the lives of two Thai woman in this border
town. The film details their mundane activities on a typical lazy afternoon. Te
characters do not have a meaningful goal in life. Under two flawed political systems,
they choose to remain ignorantly blissful.
SYNOPSIS
Roong longs for the day when she can be in the arms of her Burmese
lover, Min, an illegal immigrant. She pay s Orn, an older woman to take care of
Min while she looks for a piace for them to share their happiness. Will an overdose
of happiness have after-effects?
The story begins on a Saturday afternoon when they take Min to see the doctor
for his mysterious skin problem. The doctor prescribes some more medication. But
Orn is not satisfied and decides to make her own medication. She stops to buy
some ingredients at the market on the way to her husband'soffice. With her ingredients,
Orn invents a miracle cream for Min.
Later that afternoon, Min takes Roong to have a picnic in the jungle where they
feel free to express their love. Meanwhile, Orn has also gone to the jungle with
Tommy, her husband's co-worker. With him, she has found all the pleasure she has
dreamed of. They are suddenly iinterrupted by a Burmese Immigrant who steals their
motorcycle. Tommy chases after the thief and disappears.
Orn wanders around lost until she reaches the stream where she meets Roong and
Min.Above the forest, the sky is about to rain.
A Film by Apichatpong Weerasethakul
La-ng Dao Co.,Ltd & Kick the Machine in association with Anna Sanders Films,
present
Produced by Eric Chan, Charles de Meaux
Director of Photography: Sayombhu Mukdeeprom
Sound: Teeekadet Vucharadhanin, Lee chatametikool
Art Director: Akekarat Homlaor, Arthit Mahasri
Production/Costume Designer: Santipap Ingon-gnam
Acknowledgements: Pascale Cassagneau, Dominique Gonzalez Forester, Tiana Mille,
Xavier Douroux
Paris Coordinator: Mark Kamm
Cast: Kanokporn Tongaram, Min Oo, Jenjira Jansuda
Apichatpong Weerasethakul (1970-)
Apichatpong Weerasethakul was born in 1970 in Bangkok, Thailand. He has a degree
in Architecture from Khon Kaen University and Master of Fine Arts in Filmmaking
from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He has beenn making films and
videos since the early 90s. He is one of the few filmmakers in Thailand who have
worked outside the strict Thai studio system. In his films, he experiments with
certain elements found in the dramatic plot structure of Thai television and radio
programs, comics, and old films. He finds his inspiration in small towns around
the country. In his work, he often uses non-professional actors and improvised
dialogue in exploring the shifting boundaries beetween documentary and fiction.
In 2000, he completed his first feature Mysterious Object at Noon, a documentary
that has been screened at many international festivals and received enthusiastic
reviews and awards as well as being listed among the best films of the year 2000
by Film Comment and the Village Voice. He is active in promoting experimental
and independent films through Kick the Machine, the company he founded in 1999.
He is currently working on several video projects and new feature, Tropical Malady.
This film screening in organized by TOSHIO SHIMIZU ART OFFICE Inc. and Tomo Suzuki.
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