Good Morning, Luang Prabang
ຈອນນີ
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-prabang-ndash-and-hello-to-laoss-film-industry-843557.html
pizone
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
> Link:http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/good-morning-luang-praba...
DKJ
Wash your face and read it again
Don't pretend to be stupid reader
dkj
Vannassay
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,
ເຄຣຊີ້ແລຣີ້
I was hoping that this thread would catch a bigger fish, but I guess I
have to be content with little par siew pizone.
Your friend,
Larry
pizone
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
paxas...@yahoo.com
Mr. Vannasay the bitches will always bitch no matter good or bad .
Those bitches didn't even see the movie yet .
PXL4LIFE.
DownUnder
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:
beeve...@yahoo.com
> 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?
ຈອນນີ
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.
John,
DownUnder
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...
DownUnder
ຈອນນີ
casalao
flick.
g'damn it. a month ago i was so close to the place but yet still far
away by three-four hour flight to be exact. can't miss the old land
next time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N8RqUMHcpI&NR=1
paxas...@yahoo.com
Sabaidee ai Casalao and welcome back . You were suppose to be in Laos
3 December ago . Let make it at this coming SEAGAME .
PXL4LIFE.
ເຄຣຊີ້ແລຣີ້
Why don't you apply for a job with the Lao Goverment as their advisor
Pao? If you are as smart as you think you are or if you are as good
as you think you are, I'm sure they would be very happy to hire you as
their advisor.
They wont even have to pay out of their own pocket. You could charge
them a percentage from the success of each movie. If you are really
smart, and the movies make a killing, you'll me raking in millions
from your share of the profits. Get it?!
Your friend,
ແລຣີ້