Bangkok Cinema Scene: Movies opening August 29-September 4, 2013

Tang Wong

In Tang Wong (ตั้งวง), four neighbor schoolboys from various backgrounds all pray at a spirit-house shrine in hopes of achieving success in their endeavors.

One hopes to get a scholarship playing table tennis, while another dances in a K-pop cover band. Two others are entering the science fair. If their prayers are granted, they swear they will perform a traditional Thai dance. Trouble is, none of the boys know that much about tradition nor dancing but they do believe in the superstition about the bad luck that may befall them if they don't honor their vows. To learn the dance, they seek help from an unconventional traditional-dance performer who lives nearby.

Kongdej Jaturanrasamee, writer-director of the quirky romantic-comedies Midnight My Love and Handle Me With Care as well as last year's award-winning psychological comedy-drama P-047, directs this coming-of-age tale. It premiered at this year's Berlin film festival and also screened at the Hong Kong International Film Festival.

The buzz so far is pretty positive, with Kongdej himself saying he thinks Tang Wong is more entertaining than his previous film. Read more about it in The Nation today. It's in a semi-limited release, at many Major Cineplex branches, a few SF Cinemas locations and House on RCA. Rated G.

---

Also opening

White House Down – Following Olympus Has Fallen earlier this year, Independence Day and Day After Tomorrow director Roland Emmerich offers his own disaster-filled spin on the U.S. president in peril. Channing Tatum stars as a musclebound cop who applies to join the Secret Service but is denied. Not wanting to let down his daughter down with the news, he takes her on a tour of the White House just as the place is invaded by a paramilitary group. And it falls to the cop to protect POTUS (Jamie Foxx). Like many other big-budget Hollywood action movies this year, White House Down tanked at the U.S. box office and critical reception is mixed. Rated 15+.

Vehicle 19 – Fast and Furious star Paul Walker trades in his tuned Suburu race car for a non-descript minivan in this action drama set in South Africa. Landing after a long-haul flight, he gets into a rented vehicle that was intended for someone else. A stranger's cellphone in the glovebox and a gun under the seat deepen the mystery. Then an unconscious woman rolls out of the cargo hold in the back and the pair find themselves pursued by corrupt cops. Rated 13+.

Make Your Move – K-pop meets Coyote Ugly and Dirty Dancing in this tale of Shakespearean star-crossed romance and clashing cultures. Derek Hough is a street-smart guy who moves to New York where he meets an immigrant Asian woman (K-pop singer BoA). They click and work out a steamy dance number together as the girl's family objects. Duane Adler, writer of Step Up and Save the Last Dance, directs. It's in 3D (actual) in some cinemas. Rated 15+.

Satyagraha – Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn and Kareena Kapoor star in this Bollywood political drama about a middle-class uprising. It's in Hindi with English and Thai subtitles at Paragon, Major Cineplex Sukhumvit and Major Rama III. Opens Friday.

---

Also showing

Penny Dreadful screens as part of Best of Clermont-Ferrand 2 on Sunday.

17th Thai Short Film and Video Festival – Veteran filmmaker Pimpaka Towira's The Death Trilogy screens today at 6.45. It's an anthology of her recent films, which are thematically linked not only by death but also of rural characters searching for justice. They are My Father from 2010, The Mother from last year and the latest work, Malaria and Mosquitoes. At 5 today is the S-Express Philippines program of shorts and an encore screening of the International Competition 3. Tomorrow at 5 it's S-Express Malaysia. Saturday's screenings start at 11am with the Special White Elephant competition for high-school and younger students, but take note that not many of those entries have English subtitles. Other highlights on Saturday include the top-tier RD Pestonji competition programs at 1, 3 and 6.45, and a retrospective of shorts by acclaimed Indian filmmaker Umesh Kulkarni at 5. Sunday opens at 11 with the Payut Ngaokrachang animation competition. There is no notation for subtitles on this program, but many don't have dialogue anyway, and they're worth watching to see what the often-resourceful and scrappy Thai animators have to offer. There's also the always-watchable Best of Clermont-Ferrand 2 at 1, offering some of the top short films of the past year or so from around the world. Also at 1, the fourth-floor screening room hosts competition films from Jenesys 2.0 (Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youth Program), in which young filmmakers from across the region were invited to submit films for competition in the Asian International Children's Film Festival 2013. The fest wraps up with the Award Ceremony starting at 4.30pm in the main auditorium. The full schedule is on the festival's Facebook page.

The Friese-Greene Club – The club's month of documentaries wraps up this week with Errol Morris' Thin Blue Line tonight, Michael Moore's debut Roger and Me tomorrow and the Oscar-winning Man on Wire on Saturday. Sunday offers a special members-only screening of The Artist with the film's first assistant director David Cluck in attendance to offer his behind-the-scenes views. September's schedule changes with different themes each day – "boundaries of sex" on Wednesdays, Peter Sellers on Thursdays, David Cronenberg on Fridays, Midnight Movies on Saturdays and classics on Sundays. It all starts on Wednesday with the controversial Lies from South Korea. The FCG is down an alley next to the Queen's Park Imperial Hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 22. It's open Wednesday through Sunday from around 6pm. With just nine seats, the screening room fills up fast, so please check the website to make bookings.

---

Take note

The Alliance Française Bangkok is moving and has cancelled its film screenings for September. Hopefully the French films will start back up again when everything is situated.

Also, if you're new to this blog, welcome. And thanks to Bangkok.com for featuring Bangkok Cinema Scene as a Cool Blog of the Month.
.

Bangkok Cinema Scene special: European Union Film Festival, May 16-26, 2013

The long-running European Union Film Festival joins hands with SF cinemas this year to bring 18 acclaimed and popular recent movies from 15 countries for free screenings Bangkok.

The fest will also be held at the new SF multiplex in Chiang Mai, and for the first time, a mini-program of five English- and Thai-subtitled films in Khon Kaen.

In Bangkok, it will be held from May 16 to 26 at SF World Cinema at CentralWorld. The move to SFW CentralWorld is a welcome change from the past several years, when the EU Film Festival was held at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre – an inadequate venue for films, in my opinion.

As always, the tickets are free, which means you'll have to queue up. Tickets start being handed out 30 minutes before showtime, but in reality you'll want to get in line much earlier in order to ensure you get a decent seat. If you wait too late, you might end up straining your neck in the front row. This is always a popular festival, especially with the balloon-chasers who only turn up for free events, so brace yourself for long lines.

One thing I am uncertain of at this time is what format the movies are screening in – hopefully not DVD.

Five of them will have Thai subtitles in addition to English subs and will be shown in Khon Kaen. They are Tomboy from France (which has screened her before in a run at House), Cool Kids Don’t Cry from the Netherlands, The Death of Carlos Gardel from Portugal, Medal of Honour from Romania and the World War II drama Frozen Silence from Spain.

Here’s the line-up:

Protector (Protektor), Czech Republic, 2009 – A Czech journalist joins a Prague radio station that broadcasts Nazi propaganda in order to protect his Jewish wife. It was a winner of several Czech Lions awards, including best actress and best director.

A Funny Man (Dirch), Denmark, 2011 – This biographical drama chronicles the life of the prolific Danish actor and comedian Dirch Passer. It won several awards at home.

This Life (Hvidsten Gruppen), Denmark, 2012 – A popular entry at the Danish box office, this fact-based drama recalls the fighting spirit of the Fiils, a family of innkeepers who led the resistance against the Nazis. It won four awards.

Stars Above (Tähtitaivas talon yllä), Finland, 2012 – The stories of three women from the same family in the same country house are followed across three decades from the wartorn 1940s to the colourful 1970s and finally the present day.

Tomboy, France, 2011 – A 10-year-old girl is mistaken for a boy when she moves to a new neighborhood and embraces her new identity has she makes new friends. It won many awards, including the Teddy at the Berlin fest and prizes at several gay and lesbian fests.

Goethe!, Germany, 2010 – A starry-eyed young Goethe flunks his oral exams at law school and is sent by his angry father to the Imperial High Court in Wetzlar. There, he falls in love with a woman who is promised to another man. The sorrowful experience inspires him to write a novel that makes him an overnight success. It won a German Film Award for best makeup and was nominated for many more.

3 (Drei), Germany, 2010 – Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run, Cloud Atlas) directs this drama about the romantic triangle that forms when a long-married couple bring a man into their bed. A nominee for the Golden Lion in Venice, 3 won three German Film Awards, including best director and best actress.

The Last Rhapsody (Utolsó Rapszódia), Hungary, 2011 – The final days of composer Franz Liszt’s life are recalled, including his friendship with German composer Richard Wagner.

The Entrepreneur (L’Industriale), Italy, 2011 – A 40-year-old factory owner faces a crisis on two fronts when his factory is closing, leaving him with just one certainty in his life – his marriage. It won several awards at home, including the Italian Golden Globe for best film

Blind Spot (Doudege Wénkel), Luxembourg, 2012 – A senior police inspector takes one last case before retirement – the death of a fellow cop. He gets the help from a young loose-cannon officer, who just happens to be the brother of the departed policeman. This crime thriller has attracted a lot of buzz, and besides, how many times have you watched a movie in Luxembourgish?

Cool Kids Don’t Cry (Achtste Groepers Huilen Niet), Netherlands, 2012 – A spirited young girl loves football even though her closest friend thinks it’s not for girls. And even after she is diagnosed with leukemia, she remains optimistic. Eventually, it’s up to her friend to come up with something special. It swept the Netherlands' Golden Film prize, among several other accolades.

A Wonderful Summer (Cudowne lato), Poland, 2011 – This black comedy is mostly set in a funeral parlor. Kitka, 18, has a unique gift – she can communicate with the spirit of her dead mother, whose soul will not rest until she finds a suitable mate for her daughter.

The Death of Carlos Gardel, Portugal, 2011 – As a young drug addict nears death in a hospital, visits by family members evoke a web of memories. The father refuses to accept his son’s death, and channels his passion for tango and the Argentine singer Carlos Gardel.

Medal of Honor (Medalia de Onoare), Romania, 2009 – A 75-year-old Romanian man finds a new sense of self-respect after he accidentally receives a medal for his supposedly heroic actions during World War II, which he hardly remembers. It's won many awards, including several honors at the Thessaloniki Film Festival.

Don’t Be Afraid (No Tengas Miedo), Spain, 2011 – A young woman marked by a dark childhood decides to start over and face the people and emotions that keep her bound to the past. Stars Michelle Jenner, who won or was nominated for best new actress honors.

Frozen Silence (Silencio en la Nieve), Spain, 2011 – At the Russian front in the winter of 1943, members of Spain’s Blue Division encounter a dead man in the ice with his throat slit and a message carved into his chest, "Watch out, God is watching you." It was nominated for a couple of awards back home.

Beyond (Svinalängorna), Sweden, 2010 Noomi Rapace (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) stars in this drama about a woman who confronts her abusive childhood when she receives news that her mother is dying. Pernilla August (Darth vader's mother from Star Wars Episode I and Episode II) directs and Ola Rapace (Skyfall) also stars. It won the International Critic’s Week Award at the 67th Venice Film Festival plus prizes at many other festivals.

London – The Modern Babylon, UK, 2012 – Julien Temple directs this time-travelling voyage to the heart of his hometown, featuring musicians, writers, artists, dangerous thinkers, political radicals and above all ordinary people.

For the schedule, visit the festival website.

Bangkok Cinema Scene special: German Film Week, February 18-24, 2013

Seven acclaimed German movies will unspool over seven days during German Film Week, February 18 to 24 at Paragon Cineplex. Shows are at 7 nightly.

Tickets are free and may be reserved through the Goethe Institut – just follow the instructions on the Goethe website.

All are in German with English subtitles.

Here is the lineup:

February 18

Goethe! – Philipp Stölzl directs this 2010 biographical romantic drama covering the life of young writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. At 23, he's failed his law exams and is sent to the provinces. There, he falls in love with Lotte, a young woman who is promised to another man. Alexander Fehling and Miriam Stein star.

February 19

If not us, Who? (Wer wenn nicht wir) – This biographical drama covers the life and love of Bernward Vesper and Gudrun Ensslin, intellectuals who became involved in the Red Army Faction terrorist movement of the 1960s. August Diehl and Lena Lauzemis star. A nominee for the Golden Bear at the 2011 Berlin International Film Festival, it won several prizes, including the bronze for outstanding feature at the German Film Awards.

February 20

The System (Das System - Alles verstehen heißt alles verzeihen) – In Rostock, in the former East Germany, a young slacker and petty thief is caught breaking into a building by a man who was a former member of the Stasi secret police. He's then drawn into the man's shadowy web of corruption.

February 21

Storm – Kerry Fox stars as a prosecutor at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. She is conducting a case against a Serbian war criminal and heads to Sarajevo to track down the sister of a dead witness. Hans-Christian Schmid directs. It won several prizes at the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival, including the Amnesty International Award, as well as the silver for outstanding feature at the German Film Awards.

February 22

Berlin is in Germany – A convict and former citizen of the German Democratic Republic (Jörg Schüttauf) is released from prison after 11 years and struggles to cope with life in "Old East Berlin" and the reunified Germany. It won several awards, including the Panorama Audience Award at the 2001 Berlin fest and best from from the German Critics Association.

February 23

Whisky with Vodka – A hard-drinking womanizing actor (Henry Hübchen) misses too many days on the film set and has to contend with another actor (Markus Hering) being double-cast for his role.


February 24

Rapunzel – Luisa Wietzorek lets down her hair in this live-action TV-movie retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale.

Bangkok Cinema Scene special: Japanese Film Festival, February 15-17, 2013

The Japanese Film Festival takes on a culinary theme this year with seven films involving food or cooking.

Abbreviated to just three days, the festival runs from February 15 to 17 at SF Cinema City Terminal 21. Tickets are free and will be handed out 30 minutes before showtime. You'll want to give yourself ample time to queue up in front of the festival table in the cinema lobby to ensure you get a decent seat.

The Japanese Foundation has regular screenings of Japanese films all year 'round, but they are generally only subtitled in Thai. So the Japanese Film Festival is one of the few times each year Japanese films are screened in an English-friendly manner.

Here's the line-up:

February 15

• Eclair – Akio Kondo directs this wartime childhood drama, which is based an autobiographical novel by Shigeru Nishimura. It follows the orphan Akio as he's sent to reform school after he's caught stealing sweets. There, he is disciplined by a strict teacher called the "White Satan". Later, he's adopted by a single woman, but has to perform soul-crushing labor for her. So he escapes again, and joins a touring theater troupe as the reality of war takes hold. Registration and ticket distribution starts at 6.30, with opening ceremony at 7. Show time is at 8pm.

February 16

• Kamome Diner – A young Japanese woman opens a Japanese restaurant in Helsinki and struggles at first, but soon attracts an electic group of customers and co-workers. 2pm.
• The Chef of South Polar – Here's another film based on an autobiography, this one about Jun Nishimura, a cook who joined the research expedition living at Dome Fuji Station near the South Pole. Under hard, -54 degree Celsius tempertures in the middle of nowhere, he managed to cook extravagant gourmet meals. 4.30pm.
• Patisserie Coin De Rue – A young woman turns up at a Tokyo pastry shop looking for her boyfriend, who was a chef there. He's gone, so she asks to stay on as an apprentice chef while she searches for him. Hanging aroung is another pastry chef who was legendary, but mysteriously left the business. 7pm.

 
February 17

• Rinco's Restaurant – After a bad breakup with her boyfriend, a young woman returns to her hometown and moves back in with her mother. She opens a small restaurant where she has no menu and only takes one reservation a day, putting all her effort into preparing one grand meal. 2pm.
• Udon – A young man, having failed as a comedian in the big city, returns home and takes on a job as reviewer of noodle shops, and runs into conflict with his stubborn udon-chef father. 4.30pm.
• A Boy and His Samurai – A samurai (Ryo Nishikido) somehow time travels from the Edo period to the present day, and settles down with a single mother and her 6-year-old boy. Showing them he has a knack for making desserts, the samurai eventually becomes a popular pastry chef. 7pm.

Bangkok Cinema Scene special: Clap! French Film Festival, February 13-20, 2013

The annual French Film Festival gets new name this year, Clap!, evoking the applause-worthy lineup of some of the best French films from the past year or so. It runs from February 13 to 20.

Screenings will be at SFX the Emporium, except for the annual Valentine's Day outdoor screening at the Museum Siam, which this year features a double bill of The Artist and Intouchables.

Other highlights include the Palme d'Or-winning Oscar-nominated Amour, the crime drama Polisse and the animated feature The Rabbi's Cat.

While the open-air Valentine's Day screening is free, tickets at the Emporium will be 120 baht (100 baht for students). This is different (and more civilized in my opinion) from other "national" film fests that show their movies for free but require you to queue up for up to two hours beforehand to get a decent seat.

Here's the line-up:

Beloved (Les bien-aimés) – This romantic drama spans 30 years as it tracks the relationships of a mother and then her daughter, starting with the backdrop of the 1960s in Paris, Prague, London and back to Paris. Ludivine Sagnier, Chiara Mastroianni, Catherine Deneuve and Milos Forman star. Christophe Honoré writes and directs. February 13, 7pm, and February 16, 4.10pm.

The Artist – Last year's sensational Oscar-winning silent comedy-drama is about a Hollywood silent film star (Jean Dujardin) whose life turns rocky with the advent of sound. As his fame fades, a young plucky young actress he encounters (Bérénice Bejo) rises to superstardom. Also stars Uggie, the scene-stealing Jack Russell terrier. February 14, 7pm, Museum Siam.

The Intouchables – A wealthy man is left paralyzed and wheelchair-bound after a para-gliding accident. He hires a streetwise young man from a housing project to be his caretaker, and the two form an unlikely bond. François Cluzet and Omar Sy star. France's submission to the Oscars made it as far as the January shortlist. It's been a nominee and winner of many awards, including the Golden Globes. It won the César for best actor for Omar Sy. February 14, 9pm, Museum Siam.

Polisse – Maïwenn directs and stars in this gritty drama about a tight-knit team of the Child Protection Unit of the Paris police. Won the Jury Prize at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for 13 César Awards. February 15, 7pm and February 17, 7.10pm.

The Rabbi's Cat (Le chat du rabbin) – Joann Sfar adapts his comic-book series for the big screen. Set in Algeria in the 1920s, the story is about a cat who starts to speak after swallowing a parrot, and his owner is a rabbi. It won last year's César Award for Best Animated Film. February 16, 2pm and February 17, 5pm.

Happiness Never Comes Alone (Un bonheur n'arrive jamais seu) – Sophie Marceau and Gad Elmaleh star in this romantic comedy a womanizing young jazz musician who, against all odds, becomes involved with divorced mother of three. February 16, 7pm.

The Chef (Comme un chef) – Jean Reno stars as a veteran chef who finds himself in a pickle when the financial group that owns his restaurant wants it to lose a coveted Michelin star so it can bring in a hot young chef (Michaël Youn) who specializes in molecular gastronomy. February 17, 2pm.

Big is Beautiful (Mince alors!) – This comedy is about the issues big women face. Among them is a pretty plus-sized young wife is given a "gift" by her husband to spend time in a weight-loss spa. There, she befriends a thin lawyer who is obsessed with controlling her body image. And they befriend an older plus-sized woman who declares "big is beautiful" even as she copes with health problems. February 18, 7pm.'

A Gang Story (Les Lyonnais) – Based on true events, Gang Story (Les Lyonnais) is the epic tale of Edmond Vidal (Lanvin) - This fact based drama charts the rise of Vidal (Gérard Lanvin) from the gypsy camps to leader of the Gang des Lyonnais, which pulled off a spate of successful armed robberies in the 1970s. With his friend (Tchéky Karyo) in trouble, Vidal gets drawn into one last job. February 19, 7pm.

Amour – Michael Haneke's bleak drama is about an elderly couple (Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva) and the husband's efforts to care for his wife after she has a stroke. Amour won the top-prize Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival last year and is nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress in a Leading Role for Emmanuelle Riva. This is scheduled for a wider release in Thailand on February 28. February 20, 7pm.

For more details, check the festival website.

Bangkok Cinema Scene: Movies opening November 15-21, 2012

10th World Film Festival of Bangkok

A scene from Holy Motors, one of the highlights of the World Film Fest.

The 10th World Film Festival of Bangkok opens tomorrow night with the Thai premiere of Mekong Hotel, the latest feature by celebrated Thai independent filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul. The opening will also include the presentation of the festival's Lotus Award for lifetime achievement to French director Leos Carax, whose latest film Holy Motors is among the many highlights of this year's festival.

After Friday night's invitation-only opening at Paragon Cineplex, the festival shifts over to the Esplanade Ratchada, where it runs from Saturday until November 25.

In a recent article in The Nation, festival director Victor Silakong and deputy director Dusit Silakong, offered their Top 10 choices for viewing during the festival.

Holy Motors, which was one of the most buzzworthy titles at this year's Cannes Film Festival, is a fantasy drama about a shadowy man who assumes different roles each night as he hits the streets of Paris. Denis Lavant stars, along with Eva Mendes and Kylie Minogue.

Other picks include Le Havre, another typically wry-humored offering about a lost soul from Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki. It was a major hit on last year's festival circuit and was France's submission to the Oscars.

Others are the closing film Fados, about Portugal's enduring musical genre; the Taiwanese teen romance You Are the Apple of My Eye, the Thai documentary The Elephant Shaman, about the country's last living "elephant whisperer"; Under Snow, a unique look at the traditional lifestyle of Japan's snow-covered Echigo region; the polarizing Mexican family drama Post Tenebras Lux, the "Brazilian Cinema Paradiso" Cine Holliúdy, the Japanese documentary No Man's Zone about the Fukushima nuclear disaster and the South Korean adoption drama Barbie.

Download the schedule at the festival website, and show up whenever you have time. I can almost guarantee that you'll find something a lot more interesting than the only other movie opening in cinemas this week.

---

Also opening

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 – Finally, after five movies, it's over. Or is it? Word is that author Stephanie Meyer and screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg have penned a surprise ending to the film-franchise conclusion of The Twilight Saga. Directed by Bill Condon, Part 2 begins with Kristen Stewart in hyper-sneery mode as a newborn vampire and mother to fast-growing half-human daughter. The spawn of Bella and Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) threatens to spark a war among the vampires. The Volturi ruling class wrongly assumes that Bella and Edward have transformed the kid into a vampire, something that is expressly forbidden, and gather forces to take down the entire Cullen clan. Meanwhile, Bella's bare-chested werewolf pal Jacob (Taylor Lautner) bonds with the girl and seeks to protect her from the rest of his Wolf Pack clan. This is being released in the U.S. this week, so there's not yet any critical consensus. Rated 15+.

---

Also showing

Arjun: The Warrior Prince – This animated feature, adapted from the Indian epic the Mahabharata, is co-produced by Disney and tells the story of the young hero archer as he overcomes his various shortcomings and learns what it takes to be a man. Critical reception is generally positive. It's at Major Cineplex Sukhumvit and Rama III. Rated 13+.

Une jeunesse amoureuse – The Alliance Française Bangkok's month of documentaries continues with this offering from director François Caillat who depicts his early love life in the Paris of the 1970s – an intimate coming-of-age story along with the adventure of a generation of 20-year-olds discovering American counter-culture. It's at the Alliance Française at 7.30pm on Wednesday, November 21.

Bangkok Cinema Scene: Movies opening March 29-April 4, 2012

Wrath of the Titans

Clash of the Titans, a 2010 remake of a 1981 Ray Harryhausen stop-motion-animation epic, was critically assailed but it was enough of a financial success that Warner Bros. saw an opportunity to make a franchise out of it.

So now we have Wrath of the Titans, with Sam Worthington back as Perseus, the demigod son of the god Zeus (Liam Neeson, cashing another paycheck).

The story takes place a decade after Perseus' defeat of the monstrous CGI Kraken. Perseus is attempting to live a quiet life as a fisherman and single dad of his 10-year old son Helius. But the gods and the Titans are still at war, and the gods are losing, thanks to humanity's lack of devotion. And so Perseus is called upon to rescue Zeus when he's captured by his turncoat godly son son Ares (Edgar Ramírez).

Ralph Fiennes, Toby Kebbell, Bill Nighy, Danny Huston and Rosamund Pike also star.

Early buzz is that it's better than Clash, but not many critics have weighed in yet. It's in 3D, including IMAX. Rated G.

---

Also opening

Love 555 (รัก 555 อย่าท้าก๋อย, Rak 555 Ya Tha Koy) – The title of this comedy released by M Pictures references the "555" Thai Internet shorthand for laughter. If you speak even a little Thai, you get it. If not, then, well, who cares? Ha, ha, ha. Swimmer Pimchanok (Pokchat Thiamchai) is trained by a Japanese coach (Jaturong "Mokjok" Ornnorm, who also directs) but comes up against an unexpected rival who is being trained by Hayato’s respected friend (Jim Chaunchuen). Pongpit Preechaborisutkun also stars. Rated G.

Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu – Bollywood heads to Las Vegas in this romantic comedy starring Imran Khan and Kareena Kapoor as two strangers who wake up to discover that they’ve gotten married. At Paragon.

---

Also showing

Agent Vinod – Bollywood's answer to James Bond is this globe-trotting blockbuster spy yarn starring Saif Ali Khan, with Kareena Kapoor, Prem Chopra and Malika Haydon. Sriram Raghavan directs. Read a review at Beth Loves Bollywood. It's in Hindi with English subtitles at Major Cineplex Sukhumvit (Ekamai) on Friday and Saturday at 8 and Sunday at 5. Call (089) 488 2620 (02) 225 7500 or check BollywoodThai.com.

311, directed by Tatsuya Mori.

Salaya International Documentary Film Festival – If you didn't make it to the Thai Film Archive for last week's second edition of Salaya Doc, you missed some great films screening in the wonderful atmosphere of the Sri Salaya Theatre, along with appearances by many of the filmmakers, and even some Thai movie stars. But this weekend, Salaya Doc brings some of its films to the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. The offerings on Saturday are 311, on Japan's earthquake last year; Golden Slumbers, a magical look at the lost films of Cambodia's cinematic golden age; and Repatriation, about the complicated, emotional and contentious South Korean issues of repatriating "unconverted" North Korean spies. Sunday is a trio of unflinching films from the Director in Focus, China's Xu Tong: Wheat Harvest, about the sex industry in Beijing; and Fortune Teller and Shattered, about a crippled itinerant soothsayer and his deaf, mute, mentally impaired wife. Check the festival blog for the schedule.

---

Take note

The Scala Theater in 2007, with a special Christmas Eve screening of The Love of Siam. Photo by Pantip user:Kampongpiratevee, via Wikimedia Commons.

A movement is afoot to try and convince Chulalongkorn University against tearing down Siam Square's historic Lido and Scala cinemas in order to build more shopping malls.

Kong Rithdee writes about the issue in last Saturday's Bangkok Post, and he says that perhaps the powers that be at Chula are willing to listen. Further, he says, "let's take a deep breath" and quotes Associate Professor Permyot Kosolbhand of Chulalongkorn's Property Management Office:

"We will try to find a way to preserve the symbols of the area, but at this point we have no details."

The grass-roots movement takes the form of an online petition, which I linked to last week. It's in Thai – and it's going to be only Thais who have a say in this – but an English translation has been provided, courtesy of reader Richard Wilson:

For those who love movies, three movie theaters in the Apex Group are now slated to be demolished. These three movie theaters represent a creative center, an alternative space. They have always been unique places for:

• Showing movies that are outside the mainstream (i.e., shorts, documentaries, award-winning films, political movies, cross-gender movies, etc.),
• Projects specifically for the creative community
• Holding events for young people and for the general public.

We do not object to change and development, but we request that the management guidelines for the Siam Square area be reviewed, taking into consideration the mission of the University –
“Chulalongkorn is known for its public service” – and also taking into account the expectations that society has for this area.

Please submit your first and last names in the “comment box”.

Every name submitted will be sent directly to the e-mail of the Office of the University Dean of Chulalongkorn University and the drafters of this petition will combine these names and submit them along with an official letter requesting that the petition’s request (be granted).

Thank you.

Bangkok Cinema Scene special: European Union Film Festival in Thailand 2011

The European Union Film Festival marks 20 years in Thailand this year, with a line-up of 22 movies from 16 countries.

There are children's films, thrillers, fact-based historical dramas, romance, comedies and even a documentary.

Highlights include the U.K. documentary Exit through the Giftshop, about the shadowy grafitti artist Banksy. There's also The Escape, a Danish thriller about a journalist's life in peril in Afghanistan, the award-winning Finnish coming-of-age drama Forbidden Fruit, two much-acclaimed Spanish dramas, Camino and Cell 211, and several fact-based historical dramas, including the Dutch ice-skating drama, The Hell of '63. Children's films are Poland's award-winning The Tree of Life and the Czech teddy-bear tale Kooky

The fest runs from July 7 to 17, and just like last year's event, it will be held at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre in the first-floor auditorium. All screenings are on DVD in their original soundtracks with English subtitles. Showtimes start in the afternoons daily except Mondays, when the BACC is closed. Admission is free.

In celebration of the EU Film Festival's 20 years in Thailand, there will be musical performances on the closing weekend of July 16 and 17. The fest moves to Chiang Mai's Vista Kad Suan Kaew from July 22 to 31.

Find out more details on the festival's Facebook page.

Here's the line-up:

Bánk Bán (Hungary, 2002) – In 13th century Hungary, the king is fighting abroad while his German-born queen plays host to courtly feasts. Meanwhile, the king's deputy tours the poverty-ridden country while the queen's brother tries to seduce the deputy's wife. A group of nobles, anxious for the fate of their homeland and the honour of deputy's wife, plot a conspiracy against the queen. Thursday, July 7, 1pm and Sunday, July 10, 5.05pm.

Erratum (Poland, 2010) – A young man who years ago left his hometown, has built up a comfortable life for himself in the big city. When work takes him back to his hometown, he hopes to avoid seeing any of his old acquaintences, but a car wrekc thwarts those plans. And investigation ensues, and he must confront the choices he's made. Thursday, July 7, 3.10pm and Thursday, July 14, 5.45pm.

Camino (Spain, 2008) – An 11-year-old girl must simultaneously face two completely new events in her life – falling in love and dying. This fact-based drama is a winner of nominee of multiple awards, including Best Actress, Best Director and Best Film at the "Spanish Oscars", the Goya Awards. Thursday, July 7, 4.55pm and Saturday, July 9, 6.10pm

The Escape (Flugten, Denmark, 2009) – A journalist is taken hostage in Afghanistan, but she manages to escape. Back home in Denmark, her career takes flight. Then her one of her former captors makes his escape and comes to Denmark seeking her help. Thursday, July 7, 7.20pm and Sunday, July 10, 1.10pm.

With Friends Like These (Dagen zonder lief , Belgium, 2007) – A young woman returns to her Belgian hometown after some years away in New York City and is dismayed to find her friends have changed. Friday, July 8, 2pm and Sunday, July 10, 3.15pm.

Above The Street, Below The Water (Over gaden under vandet, Denmark, 2009) – A Copenhagen couple's seemingly happy marriage is put to the test when the husband decides he wants to take a break. Friday, July 8, 3.50pm and Wednesday, July 13, 7.10pm.

The Last Pulcinella (L'ultimo Pulcinella, Italy, 2009) – An unemployed actor is forced to leave Naples with his son after he witnesses a mafia killing. In Paris, he meets an actress who owns a theatre. Together they try to stage a play about the traditional Neapolitan character of Pulcinella. Friday, July 8, 5.40pm and Friday, July 15, 2pm.

When We Leave (Die Fremde, Germany, 2010) – A young woman of Turkish descent, fighting for an independent and self-determined life against the resistance of her family, finds herself in a life-threatening situation. Friday, July 8, 7.20pm and Sunday, July 17, 2.45pm.

Kooky (Kuky se vrací, Czech Republic, 2010) – An ailing six-year-old boy is forced to part with his mouldering pink teddy bear. The discarded stuffed animal then makes his way into a mysterious forest for an adventure against evil forces. Saturday, July 9, 11.30am and Sunday, July 17, 11am.

Weekend With My Mother (Weekend cu mama, Romania, 2009) – A woman who 15 years before left Romania for a fresh start in Spain, leaving behind her 3-year-old daughter, is dismayed to learn the now-teenage girl is a drug addict with a 2-year-old daughter in an orphanage. Overwhelmed by guilt, the woman attempts to save her daughter and redeem the mistakes of her youth. Saturday, July 9, 1.15pm and Friday, July 15, 7.30pm.

Assault on the Santa Maria (Assalto ao Santa Maria, Portugal, 2010) – This fact-based historical drama about Operation Dulcinea is set during 1960, when a young emigrant joins a group of opposition movement members in the seizure of the South America-bound Santa Maria cruise ship in a bid to bring attention to the fascist regimes in Portugal and Spain. Saturday, July 9, 2.55pm.

The Hell of '63 (De hel van '63, Netherlands, 2010) – This fact-based sports drama is about the Elfstedentocht, the world's largest and longest speed skating competition that is held irregularly in Friesland in the northern Netherlands. In 1963, thousands of skaters competed in the 200-kilometer race, but only a few crossed the finish line. Saturday, July 9, 4.10pm and Tuesday, July 12, 4.45pm.

The Magic Tree (Magiczne drzewo, Poland, 2009) – A red chair, made out of wood from a magical oak tree, leads children on a fantastic adventure. Winner of several film-festival awards, including the Chicago International Children's Film Festival and the BAMkids Film Festival, New York. Sunday, July 10, 11.30am and
Saturday, July 16, 11am.

The 1,000 Euros Generation (Generazione mille euro, Italy, 2009) – A young man working in the marketing department of a company learns his firm is being "reorganised". The arrivals of a new female colleague and a female housemate lead to an comical series of trials and tribulations. Sunday, July 10, 7.10pm and Wednesday, July 13, 2pm.

The Paper Will Be Blue (Hîrtia va fi albastrã, Romania, 2006) – This fact-based historical drama is set during the Romanian Revolution of 1989 and focuses on a young militiaman who escapes from his unit in hopes of joining the rebels. An officer assembles a patrol to hunt down the deserter, while nervous citizens watch history unfolding on their television sets. Tuesday, July 12, 3pm and Friday, July 15, 3.40pm.

Run If You Can (Renn, wenn Du kannst, Germany, 2009) – A wheelchair-bound young man and his caretaker fall for the same woman, a cellist who is working to finish her music degree. Tuesday, July 12, 6.45pm and Saturday, July 16, 4.15pm.

Cell 211 (Celda 211, Spain, 2009) – A rookie prison guard finds himself in the midst of a riot after an unforeseen turn of events. With the inmates around him unaware of his position, he must pretend to be a prisoner to survive. A winner of multiple awards, including Best Actor, Best Director and Best Film at the "Spanish Oscars", the Goya Awards. Wednesday, July 13, 3.40pm and Friday, July 15, 5.25pm.

An Ordinary Execution (Une exécution ordinaire , France, 2010) – A young urologist practicing in a Moscow hospital in the 1950s desperately tries to get pregnant from her husband, a disillusioned physician. Meanwhile, the doctor, to her horror, is assigned to treat Stalin. Wednesday, July 13, 5.15 and Saturday, July 16, 2.20pm.

The Wedding Photographer (Bröllopsfotografen, Sweden, 2009) – When the factory in his hometown shuts down, a young man decides to try his luck in Stockholm as a wedding photographer. Thursday, July 14, 2pm and Sunday, July 17, 12.45pm.

Exit through the Giftshop (United Kingdom, 2010) – Eccentric French-born Los Angeles thrift-shop owner Thierry Guetta attempts to capture one of the world's most elusive graffiti artists and pranksters – Banksy – with wildly unexpected results. Critical reception is wildly positive. Thursday, July 14, 7.30pm and Saturday, July 16, 7.25pm.

Dust (Luxembourg, 2009) – Teenage twin siblings survive in a post-apocalyptic world in a secluded mansion left by their parents. They lead a quiet and simple life, growing their own food, swimming in a nearby lake, reading and playing chess. With the unexpected arrival of a young man throws their harmonic life into disarray. Thursday, July 14, 4pm and Saturday, July 16, 12.40pm.

Forbidden Fruit (Kielletty hedelmä, Finland, 2009) – A pair of 18-year-old girls from a restrictive Christian order are on their summer break and go to Helsinki for the first time. One of the girls wants to cut loose and experience life before getting married while the other only wants to make sure they return safe. By the end of the summer, one of them will be changed for good. An award-winner and nominee at several film festivals. Sunday, July 17, 5.30pm.