There are so many movies being produced these days that the premiere of most films hardly merits a second look. But in Laos there is cause for genuine excitement. Thirty-three years after the communist government overthrew the king and seized power, the south-east Asian nation has just produced its first privately funded movie, Good Morning, Luang Prabang.
The plot is simple enough; a Thai photographer visiting Laos falls in love with his beautiful Laotian tour guide. But much more remarkable than the plot-line, is that the communist government, having for years seen cinema as nothing more than an opportunity for propaganda, has given its support to the movie. As such there are hopes that Good Morning, Luang Prabang, which recently premiered at one of the country's two cinemas, might be the first of many.
"We aim at presenting Laotian culture, our beautiful scenery and cities," said Anousone Sirisackda, a Lao video producer who was involved in making the film with the Thai director, Sakchai Deenan. "Although Thailand and Laos have similar cultures, their differences are the charms that would draw people to see this movie."
Under the communist Pathet Lao group, the only movies produced in the former French colony were crude propaganda films and a handful of patriotic films funded by the government. Now, the authorities believe that allowing filming in Laos and helping develop the country's film industry could be a vital source of income for the country.
Not that everything has suddenly become easy. A member of the government was on the set every day to ensure that Laotian culture was portrayed appropriately and the team behind the movie cut a number of scenes they believed might be controversial. They also deliberately chose a plot that would not challenge the authorities. "We wanted a soft storyline so it would not be too hard to get approval from the Lao government," said Sakchai.
Starring Ananda Everingham, a Laotian-Australian actor, and the Laotian actress Khamly Philavong, the movie also represents a means of strengthening ties between Laos and Thailand. Relations between the Western-backed Thailand and the communist government of Laos have not always been easy. The two countries fought border skirmishes in the late 1980s.
And movies have previously not helped matters either. Two years ago, the Lao national football team were ridiculed in the Thai comedy Mak Teh (Lucky Losers). The film's release was cancelled after Laotian diplomats complained that it made fun of the country and its people. And last year, the Thai soap opera Mekong Love Song was pulled after similar complaints from Lao authorities. Apparently the scene deemed the most offensive included a Thai actor dropping Laos's national flower, the frangipani, in a river as he pined for his lover.
Having premiered in Laos's capital Vientiane and shown in Thailand, the producers are hoping to organise open-air screenings so that more people in Laos – including those in the Unesco World Heritage city, Luang Prabang, which gives the film its title – will be able to see the movie. Link: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/good-morning-luang-praba...
all, when i first read this article, i'm glad to know that laos start to make some lao movie, but when i reach this paragraph,
"Under the communist Pathet Lao group, the only movies produced in the former French colony were crude propaganda films and a handful of patriotic films funded by the government. Now, the authorities believe that allowing filming in Laos and helping develop the country's film industry could be a vital source of income for the country. "
it turns my desire to watch and support this movie completely. why you have to make up such stories to promote your new lao movie? who will be your audience? who ever wrote this paragraph is a very stupid person using old commu propaganda to promote the new lao movie. i bet many laonork won't pay a penny to watch or support this movie with such bad mouth propaganda....
if this is a private made movie, why it needs such commu propaganda?
pizone
On Jun 11, 5:16 am, ຈອນນີ <johnny...@gmail.com> wrote:
> There are so many movies being produced these days that the premiere > of most films hardly merits a second look. But in Laos there is cause > for genuine excitement. Thirty-three years after the communist > government overthrew the king and seized power, the south-east Asian > nation has just produced its first privately funded movie, Good > Morning, Luang Prabang.
> The plot is simple enough; a Thai photographer visiting Laos falls in > love with his beautiful Laotian tour guide. But much more remarkable > than the plot-line, is that the communist government, having for years > seen cinema as nothing more than an opportunity for propaganda, has > given its support to the movie. As such there are hopes that Good > Morning, Luang Prabang, which recently premiered at one of the > country's two cinemas, might be the first of many.
> "We aim at presenting Laotian culture, our beautiful scenery and > cities," said Anousone Sirisackda, a Lao video producer who was > involved in making the film with the Thai director, Sakchai Deenan. > "Although Thailand and Laos have similar cultures, their differences > are the charms that would draw people to see this movie."
> Under the communist Pathet Lao group, the only movies produced in the > former French colony were crude propaganda films and a handful of > patriotic films funded by the government. Now, the authorities believe > that allowing filming in Laos and helping develop the country's film > industry could be a vital source of income for the country.
> Not that everything has suddenly become easy. A member of the > government was on the set every day to ensure that Laotian culture was > portrayed appropriately and the team behind the movie cut a number of > scenes they believed might be controversial. They also deliberately > chose a plot that would not challenge the authorities. "We wanted a > soft storyline so it would not be too hard to get approval from the > Lao government," said Sakchai.
> Starring Ananda Everingham, a Laotian-Australian actor, and the > Laotian actress Khamly Philavong, the movie also represents a means of > strengthening ties between Laos and Thailand. Relations between the > Western-backed Thailand and the communist government of Laos have not > always been easy. The two countries fought border skirmishes in the > late 1980s.
> And movies have previously not helped matters either. Two years ago, > the Lao national football team were ridiculed in the Thai comedy Mak > Teh (Lucky Losers). The film's release was cancelled after Laotian > diplomats complained that it made fun of the country and its people. > And last year, the Thai soap opera Mekong Love Song was pulled after > similar complaints from Lao authorities. Apparently the scene deemed > the most offensive included a Thai actor dropping Laos's national > flower, the frangipani, in a river as he pined for his lover.
> Having premiered in Laos's capital Vientiane and shown in Thailand, > the producers are hoping to organise open-air screenings so that more > people in Laos – including those in the Unesco World Heritage city, > Luang Prabang, which gives the film its title – will be able to see > the movie. > Link:http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/good-morning-luang-praba...
I am often deeply disturbed by the overbearing attitude of the Western press in general, which often conceals their messages of insults in terms of dealing with the Asian countries. Example of this article, “Bonjour, Luang Prabang” published by “Independent.co.uk”, despite its pretty well known newspapers, but 85% of this article is full of crass ignorance with intended disdainful preempted reviews. Is it not supposedly to jumpstart the learning curve of a new world of entertainment for Laos, why pushing the envelop so hard to poison the happy atmosphere before even the movie yet to be viewed and offered viewers’ own opinion.
Bravo! That’s why our blindfolded anti Lao Pizone seems to be so quick and so overexcited as usual to go on rampage without ever having a slight idea where the source of ill-intent is from. At least, the “Independent.co.uk” must be real happy to succeed to excite one guy to repeat like parrot.
> I am often deeply disturbed by the overbearing attitude of the Western > press in general, which often conceals their messages of insults in > terms of dealing with the Asian countries. Example of this article, > “Bonjour, Luang Prabang” published by “Independent.co.uk”, despite > its pretty well known newspapers, but 85% of this article is full of > crass ignorance with intended disdainful preempted reviews. Is it not > supposedly to jumpstart the learning curve of a new world of > entertainment for Laos, why pushing the envelop so hard to poison the > happy atmosphere before even the movie yet to be viewed and offered > viewers’ own opinion.
> Bravo! That’s why our blindfolded anti Lao Pizone seems to be so quick > and so overexcited as usual to go on rampage without ever having a > slight idea where the source of ill-intent is from. At least, the > “Independent.co.uk” must be real happy to succeed to excite one guy to > repeat like parrot.
> Vannassay,
I was hoping that this thread would catch a bigger fish, but I guess I have to be content with little par siew pizone.
hey dkj, you should wash your mouth and clean up your mind if you want to promote this lao movie. don't let the dungmo wrote the 'article' about lao movie for you. the stupid reader is you, not me. mainly, this article didn't say any 'goodie' about this lao movie. it didn't have any intention to promote the movie... i just brought up one point and three of you people, dkj, vannasay and phibah larry, jump in right away... hahaahhhhahahah, it's funny, may be i'll pay to watch this movie.
why you smart reader dkj don't write an article about the movie yourself and post it here, instead of acting like you're the 'slat&songsai' reader?
pizone
On Jun 11, 8:54 am, DKJ <dkj.l...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I am often deeply disturbed by the overbearing attitude of the Western > press in general, which often conceals their messages of insults in > terms of dealing with the Asian countries. Example of this article, > “Bonjour, Luang Prabang” published by “Independent.co.uk”, despite > its pretty well known newspapers, but 85% of this article is full of > crass ignorance with intended disdainful preempted reviews. Is it not > supposedly to jumpstart the learning curve of a new world of > entertainment for Laos, why pushing the envelop so hard to poison the > happy atmosphere before even the movie yet to be viewed and offered > viewers’ own opinion.
> Bravo! That’s why our blindfolded anti Lao Pizone seems to be so quick > and so overexcited as usual to go on rampage without ever having a > slight idea where the source of ill-intent is from. At least, the > “Independent.co.uk” must be real happy to succeed to excite one guy to > repeat like parrot.
> Vannassay,
Mr. Vannasay the bitches will always bitch no matter good or bad . Those bitches didn't even see the movie yet .
After a few days break... so much is happening in SCL!!!
On the Lao movie industry... There are many hundred, if not few 1000's movies, have been made in Laos in recent years by the Hmong US. The LPDR never allow it but the Hmong-US did it any way with handycam camera - so all are video format - and later on with more sophisticated digital camera with good quality Hmong movies.
The first wave of Lao media was mainly video documentary about every aspect of Laos, made by the Hmong in the 80's and 90's. Then as the country opened up, there were Hmong movies - There are practically video-film length on just about any topic.. If any one care to walk thru Talatsao, you can pick up lots of Hmong movies, imported back to Laos from the US (but they are all made in Laos!!!). If the LPDR knows how to handle properly, there could be few dollars made from those 100's of Hmong movies.
The Hmong music industry is also a big contribution to the thriving recording studios in Laos as there are more Hmong music than Lao music ever produced in Vientiane. This is simply due to the fact that the lao consumers do not support Lao music much at all... one person buy one copy then the whole neighborhood just copy from it!!! So, it is NOT profitable to produce lao music (as I have experienced with my Entertainment Company, producing Lao music and the first ever lao Karaoke!!). But the Hmong will buy music, even the price is almost twice as the Lao music, and only want original copy!
As of today, there are still some Hmong movies made in Laos ( a-hem.. even some people attempted to do R rated video!!! video ... Ooop... sh!!!) but more and more are now shifted to Thailand where there is not much restriction - eg. war movies ect... it is impossible to film a war movie in Laos with people carry guns ect... but no problem in Thailand.
Any way, it is fantastic to have the "Love Is Forever" part 2 coming out. If John and Keo did not swim across the Mekong, there would be no Ananda. Let's hope that the film is a hit and as Ananda said, it would launch the Lao film industry.
More later.
DownUnder
On Jun 12, 8:28 am, "paxason...@yahoo.com" <paxason...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On Jun 11, 12:09 pm, Vannassay <van.si...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I am often deeply disturbed by the overbearing attitude of the Western > > press in general, which often conceals their messages of insults in > > terms of dealing with the Asian countries. Example of this article, > > “Bonjour, Luang Prabang” published by “Independent.co.uk”, despite > > its pretty well known newspapers, but 85% of this article is full of > > crass ignorance with intended disdainful preempted reviews. Is it not > > supposedly to jumpstart the learning curve of a new world of > > entertainment for Laos, why pushing the envelop so hard to poison the > > happy atmosphere before even the movie yet to be viewed and offered > > viewers’ own opinion.
> > Bravo! That’s why our blindfolded anti Lao Pizone seems to be so quick > > and so overexcited as usual to go on rampage without ever having a > > slight idea where the source of ill-intent is from. At least, the > > “Independent.co.uk” must be real happy to succeed to excite one guy to > > repeat like parrot.
> > Vannassay,
> Mr. Vannasay the bitches will always bitch no matter good or bad . > Those bitches didn't even see the movie yet .
On Jun 11, 8:20 pm, DownUnder <drpao...@dex.hmoob.net> wrote:
> After a few days break... so much is happening in SCL!!!
Down under or Dr. Pao, What do you mean
If any one care to walk
> thru Talatsao, you can pick up lots of Hmong movies, imported back to > Laos from the US (but they are all made in Laos!!!). If the LPDR > knows how to handle properly, there could be few dollars made from > those 100's of Hmong movies.
I don't like the idea you said here. Do you point for LPDR to arest the Hmong people who make movie and fine for few dollars or what?
I read this article 5 times over and over, it doesn’t matter how I read from top to bottom and from right to left, but the bottom line I still understand like Pizon claimed. Maybe some need to pin point where I did miss it. Pizon do not feel bad as yourself, I try to get the big picture like somebody claimed what is it is what is it.
> On Jun 11, 8:20 pm, DownUnder <drpao...@dex.hmoob.net> wrote:
> > After a few days break... so much is happening in SCL!!!
> Down under or Dr. Pao, What do you mean
> If any one care to walk
> > thru Talatsao, you can pick up lots of Hmong movies, imported back to > > Laos from the US (but they are all made in Laos!!!). If the LPDR > > knows how to handle properly, there could be few dollars made from > > those 100's of Hmong movies.
> I don't like the idea you said here. Do you point for LPDR to arest > the Hmong people who make movie and fine for few dollars or what?
What I mean is that if the LPDR handle properly, there would be so many films and music exported out of Laos - generating few $$. But it may not work that way as yet because it would destroy the purpose of the filmmakers. Even in this first Lao movie, it was reported that the Lao officials would be at the scene to ensure proper content of the film. Hence a Lao Hollywood may be along way off...
