The infamous Death Railway winds its way through western Thailand and on into Burma. Four friends in their mid-twenties set off on a trip into the jungle where tens of thousands of lives were extinguished during World War II; the dense vegetation in this place also harbours other secrets. Produced on a modest budget, the Thai experimenter’s film throws down the gauntlet to the most fastidious of movie buffs, who won’t be spooked even by a radical cinematic cipher.
The infamous Death Railway winds its way through western Thailand and on into Burma. Four 20-somethings are here to rehearse a theatre performance, also to chat, drink and smoke weed. Their high spirits are somewhat at odds with the sombre aura of the jungle, where tens of thousands of lives were extinguished during World War II. The dense vegetation, however, harbours other secrets as well… The experimental Thai filmmaker has always taken an interest in the socio-political situation in her native country. With her typical ingenuity she seeks connections between past and present, the actors and their characters, and between real people and history. With its modest budget, thus more liberal approach, the film challenges the pickiest of movie buffs, who won’t be spooked even by a radical cinematic cipher.
Martin Horyna
69 min / Color, Black & White, DCP
Director Anocha Suwichakornpong
/ Screenplay Anocha Suwichakornpong
/ Dir. of Photography Boonyanuch Kraithong
/ Editor Aacharee Ungsriwong
/ Art Director Akekarat Homlaor
/ Producer Parinee Buthrasri
/ Production Electric Eel Films
/ Coproduction Diversion
/ Cast Apinya Sakuljaroensuk, Waywiree Ittianunkul, Sornrapat Patharakorn, Bhumibhat, Thavornsiri, Sirat Intarachote
/ Sales Rediance
Anocha Suwichakornpong (1976, Chon Buri, Thailand). Selected filmography: Graceland (2006, short), Mundane History (Jao nok krajok, 2009), Overseas (Pohn talay, 2012, short), By the Time It Gets Dark (Dao khanong, 2016), Krabi, 2562 (2019, doc.), Come Here (Jai jumlong, 2021).
Rediance
Room 1703 Tower B, Star City International Tower, Jiu Xian Qiao Road, Chaoyang District, 100020, Beijing
China
E-mail: [email protected]
Parinee Buthrasri
Producer
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