Thai Social Context in Apichatpong Weerasethakul ‘s Films

Abstract

This article studies about the Thai social context in Apichatpong Weerasethakul ‘s films. Apichatpong Weerasethakul is a Thai filmmaker who won the highest prize in Cannes Film Festival 2010. He has generated acclaim on the film festival circuit ever since his 2002 debut "Blissfully Yours," which he followed up with "Tropical Malady" and "Syndromes and a Century." Apichatpong Weerasethakul is a Thai independent filmmaker who combine between film and art. Hhis works were shown at the museums and theaters all over the world. The story telling in his films sitting in his home town Khon Kaen, a province in the northeastern part of Thailand. His film criticizes melodramas in TV, radio and Thai social context with non professional actor, narrative style and symbolics about dreams, nature, sexuality (including his own homosexuality). There are many years Apichartpong ‘s films has been well received in many countries that they were released. But in Thailand, some of his works were banned and unreleased such as Syndromes and a Century (2006). Although this film was the first Thai film accepted in competition of the 63rd Venice Film Festival, it is interesting to study his film with the Thai social context of what he conveyed in his works and why the filmmaker who succeed on the world stage, but for his country, he has not been widely recognized .