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EU Film Festival returns to Chiang Mai
A poster for Trishna with
Frieda Pinto. Based on Thomas Hardy's classic novel Tess of the
D'Urbervilles, 'Trishna' tells the story of one woman whose life is
destroyed by a combination of love and circumstances. Set in contemporary
Rajasthan.
After two decades of presenting European culture through
the celluloid screen to Thai cinephiles, the Delegation of the European
Union to Thailand proudly presents the 21st European Union Film Festival
2012 at the Vista Kad Suan Kaew cinema in Chiang Mai from 15 to 24 June. All
films will be shown in their original language with subtitles in English.
Admission to all films is free of charge.
The European Union Film Festival (EUFF)
2012 showcases Europe’s cultural diversity, portrayed in 23 films from 17
different EU Member States. Many genres will be represented throughout the
festival, including children's films, drama, romance, comedy and political
documentary. Entering into its third decade, the European Union Film
Festival this year screens recent productions as well showcasing stories
from as early as the 1900s to present the roots of present-day European
culture. The films suit audiences of every age including the Substitute: a
comedy story of a new elementary teacher who can read kids' minds;
Charlotte: A Royal at War: a documentary based on a true story about the
untold events which took place during Hitler's Third Reich; Welcome: the
story of a 17-year-old Kurdish boy’s adventure trying to cross the England
Channel without the ability to swim; and The Flying Pigs: a story about
those involved in the football business in Poland, the country that hosts
Euro 2012 this year.
Detailed info on the EUFF, a list of
films and the programs for Bangkok and Chiang Mai are enclosed. Programs,
film synopses and movie trailers of all films are also available on the
Facebook page of the Delegation of the European Union to Thailand:
www.facebook.com/EUinThailand. (PR)
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EU Film Festival Screening Schedule
| 13.00: Pure |
1 h 41 m |
Sweden |
| 15.00: Soul Kitchen |
1 h 39 m |
Germany |
| 17.00: Princess |
1 h 40 m |
Finland |
| 19.00: Sonny Boy |
2 h 10 m |
Netherlands |
| Saturday, 16 June |
| 11.00: The Substitute |
1 h 33 m |
Denmark |
| 13.00: 18 Meals |
1 h 47 m |
Spain |
| 15.00: Empties |
1 h 40 m |
Czech Republic |
| 17.00: Loose Cannons |
1 h 50 m |
Italy |
| 19.00: North Face |
2 h 6 m |
Austria |
| Sunday, 17 June |
| 11.00: Krabat |
2 h |
Germany |
| 13.15: The Strange Case of Angelica |
1 h 34 m |
Portugal |
| 15.00: Charlotte: A Royal at War |
1 h 38 m |
Luxembourg |
| 17.00: In a Better World |
1 h 59 m |
Denmark |
| 19.15: Morgen |
1 h 40 m |
Romania |
| Monday, 18 June |
| 13.00: Made in Hungaria |
1 h 48 m |
Hungary |
| 15.00: Welcome |
1 h 50 m |
France |
| 17.00: Joanna |
1 h 45 m |
Poland |
| 19.00: Trishna |
1 h 57 m |
UK |
| Tuesday, 19 June |
| 13.00: The Flying Pigs |
1 h 39 m |
Poland |
| 15.00: Everlasting Moments |
2 h 11 m |
Sweden |
| 17.30: A Perfect Day |
1 h 35 m |
Italy |
| 19.15: For 80 Days |
1 h 44 m |
Spain |
| Wednesday, 20 June |
| 13.00: Turquaze |
1 h 40 m |
Belgium |
| 15.00: Morgen |
1 h 40 m |
Romania |
| 17.00: The Substitute |
1 h 33 m |
Denmark |
| 19.00: Krabat |
2 h |
Germany |
| Thursday, 21 June |
| 13.00: The Strange Case of Angelica |
1 h 34 m |
Portugal |
| 15.00: Trishna |
1 h 57 m |
UK |
| 17.15: Charlotte: A Royal at War |
1 h 38 m |
Luxembourg |
| 19.15: Joanna |
1 h 45 m |
Poland |
| Friday, 22 June |
| 13.00: 18 Meals |
1 h 47 m |
Spain |
| 15.00: North Face |
2 h 6 m |
Austria |
| 17.30: Empties |
1 h 40 m |
Czech Republic |
| 19.30: Soul Kitchen |
1 h 39 m |
Germany |
| Saturday, 23 June |
| 11.00: Welcome |
1 h 50 m |
France |
| 13.00: Pure |
1 h 41 m |
Sweden |
| 15.00: Made in Hungaria |
1 h 48 m |
Hungary |
| 17.00: Princess |
1 h 40 m |
Finland |
| 19.00: Sonny Boy |
2 h 10 m |
Netherlands |
| Sunday, 24 June |
| 11.00: In a Better World |
1 h 59 m |
Denmark |
| 13.10: Turquaze |
1 h 40 m |
Belgium |
| 15.00: For 80 Days |
1 h 44 m |
Spain |
| 17.00: The Flying Pigs |
1 h 39 m |
Poland |
| 18.50: Everlasting Moments |
2 h 11 m |
Sweden |
| Screenings are subject to change without
prior notice |
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Lady Gaga live in Bangkok
Lady Gaga’s famous motorcycle
ride. (Photo by Dirk Weeber-Arayatumsopon)
Story and Photos by Dirk Weeber-Arayatumsopon
Although 50,000 tickets were sold,
nevertheless the concert wasn’t sold out and for the Chiang Mai Mail I had
the honor to see Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta live, myself. I paid for
the ticket by myself too, just to tell all of you, that newspapers do not
pay their employers any events nowadays.
However, even if so many praised the
American superstar, who is a living example of the American dream, I wasn’t
so happy with her performance in Bangkok. She acted childish, yelled, cried,
laughed and was more than once terribly rude and a bad example for the young
generation.
Lady Gaga
performed on the electric piano as well. (Photo by Dirk
Weeber-Arayatumsopon)
Even so, she welcomed the second
daughter of the Crown Prince HRH Princess Siriwanwalee personally to the
stage. Then just 3 minutes after the Royal welcome – she stated that she
does not give a f*** about anything. And her dancers and musicians stated
the same. And when you than see the huge merchandising and propaganda
machine – in the end it is about MONEY and nothing else.
When an entertainer arrives with 3
chartered Boeing 747 planes at Don Meuang Airport, because there wasn’t
enough space at Suvarnabhumi airport available, then it is clear that it has
to be about money.
And the security was like the American
President was in town. I can remember when George Bush Jr. visited Bangkok,
with about the same amount of police and army blocking areas and showing
strength.
During the concert Ms. Germanotta said
many times that she sees herself as a rebel, and she also used the
opportunity to attack the people who criticized her in Asia, like Catholic
demonstrators in the Philippines and Muslim groups in Indonesia.
The
“castle” stage set was beautiful but not as amazing as expected (Photo by
Dirk Weeber-Arayatumsopon)
In Jakarta, where she cancelled her
performance, because of radical Muslim’s threatening to kill the
Italian-American tween queen, she had planned her biggest stage performance.
But even though she says she doesn’t care about anything, it seems she does
care about her security, and the safety of her fans too.
The stage show in Bangkok started with
DJ Zed. He was semi successful in trying to get the crowd into some kind of
frenzy, showing that he was a child of the 80s, with using sounds of the
good old Commodore 64 games and also graphics of it on the displays of the
two giant screens. Not to forget his teddy bear videos and some gags about
the cell phone and facebook generation of nowadays. His stage and light show
was even almost more impressive than the one of Lady Gaga. Maybe a new
superstar was silently born in Bangkok?
A 30 minute break followed with
impressions from a CD player of Vienna Classics, probably the great Andre
Rieu Orchestra, before Lady Gaga finally started her performance.
The stage construction – a castle like
creation opened and closed its gates and Ms. Germanotta could walk on the
walls and look out of the windows. In the front wings of the castle, her
musicians could be found, each in his own little section. The towers had the
Christian Cross and in some of her performances they were in ugly red, blood
like color. With this, she made herself no friends in the Vatican.
I must say I expected fireworks, laser
light effects, great things. But what I got to see were great costumes
designed by a famous Italian designer, some 3 D giant screen performances
and the castle itself in several different colors through different lights.
I have seen even the grandfathers of
Disco Music giving better stage show performances than Lady Gaga did in
Bangkok, it was really disappointing. But as she said that she wants to come
back, let’s give her a second chance to do better.
Lady Gaga missed her playback several
times, even so she sang a lot live and she hit her vocals. She further
played the keyboard live and the dance performances and changes of the stage
costumes in short times were spectacular.
The stage show was a mix out of “non
Terrestrial” or alien to “Anti-Christian Catholic” ending somehow in favor
of a message of “multicultural rebel and multi sexual peace message”, I
really couldn’t understand.
The best scene of the evening, (caught
of some cell phone shooters and those who were able to get cameras in, even
pictures were strictly prohibited) was, when she took a Thai traditional
golden hat from a fan, up on stage, and performed an a capella version of
the song “Hair”, sitting on a motorcycle with the Thai Flag wearing a black
pvc vinyl costume showing a lot of naked “flesh”.
This will go into Thai History and the
pictures have been shown in most of the Thai newspapers. Of course we must
show the picture here too.
In summary, what makes the Lady Gaga
phenomenon so special is simply her composition style and the broad base of
her music. I especially like her Latin American music and the disco beats as
they remind me of real music.
Today where everything is copied and
new recorded or simply only a beat without lyrics and anything behind is
played, she still does something like real music and her songs have
messages. Even so not in favor of special groups and some of the messages
could easily be misunderstood. But this is my subjective opinion, others may
see differently.
The mood in the concert was good many
Thai people left after what they thought was the last song although she
performed an encore of three more songs, next time she might do better to
consider the cultural differences between Thais and Americans. The concert
had ALL and I really mean ALL of her hits from older to new, nothing was
missing.
The prices for the show ran between
1500 Baht and 7500 Baht, compared to many other superstars who have been in
Bangkok in the last 10 years the prices seemed moderate. Even though I
thought the stage show was disappointing, I would go to see Lady Gaga again.
I am giving her a C plus for this time.
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Simone Kopmajer brings her smooth style to Chiang Mai
Simone’s lovely face and beautiful voice was
enjoyed by the large crowd but her performance of HM the King’s composition,
Twilight, endeared her to her Thai fans.
By Shana Kongmun
Simone Kopmajer, a lovely jazz singer with a beautiful voice took the stage
at the Empress Hotel to a near capacity crowd of Thai and foreign jazz
enthusiasts. The opening act of local talents Taengmo and her band of Payap
students kept the crowd highly entertained while waiting for the main show
even inspiring CEO of the Night Safari Dr. Sarawut Srisakun to hand her a
rose in homage of her talent.
Simone took the stage singing smooth jazz and pop favorites that slowly
built up in tempo until she had many members of the audience singing and
clapping with the music. With two local musicians backing her, Daniel on
electric piano and Aey on the double bass, she was also backed by a
fantastic drummer from Austria; Reinhardt. She wooed and then wowed the
crowd with her voice but she completely won the crowd over with her
rendition of Twilight, a composition by HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej with
lyrics in English and Thai by H.H. Prince Chakrabandh Pensiri.
A minor but yet distracting feature was the lighting system, swirling lights
on the ceilings often translated into bright beams shot into the eyes
distracting one from the dazzling enough performance on stage. One person
commented that the swirling lights made her a bit dizzy! The spotlights that
also roamed the crowd seemed to be set at a wrong angle, often catching the
audience in the eye. And while the convention hall of the Empress Hotel was
perhaps not the intimate venue that suits Simone’s style it was
understandable given that bringing an artist of this caliber to Chiang Mai
isn’t always the easiest thing and not necessarily one that can be seen by
only a small crowd.
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H Gallery opens in Mae Rim June 3
This oil on canvas by Mit Jai Inn will be on
display at Chiang Mai’s newest gallery; H Gallery will open in Mae Rim on
June 3, 2012.
H Gallery will launch its inaugural exhibition when it
shows the paintings of Mit Jai Inn. The province’s first purpose-built
gallery. H Gallery Chiang Mai promises to build on the established profile
of H Gallery Bangkok, and H Project Space, with innovative and dynamic
exhibitions that draw on the rich legacy of experimental art in the area and
introduce new dialogues.
Mit Jai Inn is one of Thailand’s
leading artists and is rapidly developing an international profile. He is
included in the 18th Biennale of Sydney, 2012, curated by
Catherine de Zegher and Gerald McMaster.
“Untitled” introduces new
paintings made especially for H Chiang Mai alongside the artist’s signature
use of a soft geometric abstraction on double-sided canvases, sometimes
coiled. Reminiscent of prayer flags or certain types of mandalas, the
paintings’ expressive surfaces, often extravagant color, and sense of
objecthood also suggest condensed references to canonical art history. This
oscillation between the coded or symbolic and the autonomous is further
pressured by a politics of form and color: Mit plays with references to the
Thai national flag and divisive factions from the political landscape of
this country, factions signified by particular colors.
The rhizomatic quality of Mit’s
paintings challenges conventional methods of contextualization. Influences
from dominant narratives of art history, the idiosyncrasies of notions of
contemporary art and issues of the relationship between aesthetics and
politics reverberate in UNTITLED. While challenges to conventional
categories of understanding have been a staple of art practices for any
number of decades, Mit re-invigorates the interest of ambiguity, divergence
and multiplicity because of a freighted local backdrop that insists on the
superiority of the unilateral, literal and linear.
H Gallery Chiang Mai is located 1/2 Km
beyond the Tiger Kingdom in Mae Rim and is a short drive from The Four
Seasons Resort Chiang Mai and Dara Pirom Palace Museum. The gallery is open
to the public by appointment only on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday each week.
For an appointment contact H Gallery Chiang Mai on 085 021 5508.
www.hgallerybkk.com. (PR)
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A Piece of Life
Suvannabhumi Galllery owner Mar Mar represented
the artist at the opening as he was unable to attend.
By Lili Tan
Artist Ye Win Aung’s second solo show,
he was born in Mandalay but is based in Yangon, and is graduate of the
Mandalay Fine Arts School. His first solo show was in Yangon last year.
Watercolor on paper, the artist, who was unable to attend the event as he
couldn’t get his papers in time, portrays an interesting contemporary take
on traditional life in Burma; the folk women, bullock carts, dancing etc.
The artist was represented by gallery
owner Mar Mar at the showing that took place at the Suvannabhumi Gallery on
Charoenrat Road on Friday, May 11, 2012.
Ye Win Aung’s work is a
contemporary take on traditional Burmese life.
Mar Mar discusses the
watercolor paintings with a guest at the opening.
The artist, Ye Win Aung, looks
at the traditional lifestyle in
Myanmar in a unique way.
Chiang Mai Ensemble invites you to the dance
“Invitation to the Dance”, is the title of the next
concert from the Chiang Mai Ensemble. Many of the compositions will be
dedicated to Dance Music, from Baroque to Late-Romantic. Composers will
include Durante,
Bach, Vivaldi,
Haydn,
Mendelssohn,
Donizetti,
Tchaikovsky, Bizet, Godard,
Piazzolla,
and Vora-urai. The Chiangmai
Ensemble consists of 5 Chiang Mai musicians/teachers: Mutita Narkmuang on
guitar, Ong-ard Kanchaisak, Counter-tenor, Remi Namtep on piano, Xavier
Vichitporn, flute, and Witsaruth Tawinno, cello. The Ensemble will be
performing at the AUA Auditorium on June 9 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets at 200 Baht
can be obtained from the musicians or by reservation through phone number
089 757 9875, and (if still available) before the concert at the door.
Antique textiles on display at 137 Pillars House
The opening evening with Rene
Anant Feddersen (2nd left) was hosted by Chris Stafford of SilverNeedle
Hospitality (center)and Manfred Ilg General Manager of the 137 Pillars House
Resort (far left) and was attended by many interested locals including Mrs
Dararat Sioris (2nd right) and her husband George Sioris, former Ambassador
of Greece to Thailand (far right).
By Shana Kongmun
The fabulous 137 Pillars House in Wat
Gate hosted a show of antique textiles from South East Asia and India now
through the end of July when the textiles will be sold and the proceeds
donated to a Chiang Mai based charity. The exhibition featured 100 year old
textiles from tribal Iban people on Borneo, to Khmer textiles from Cambodia
as well as Sumatran and Surin textiles.
The owner of the textiles, Rene Anant
Feddersen of 338 Oida Art offered knowledgeable and interesting stories
about the various textiles including the Iban textile featuring crocodiles,
the handwoven tapis skirts that Sumatran women had to weave prior to
marriage; each village had its own distinctive style so that the origin of
each woman could be identified by her skirt. The skirts each had metal woven
into the fabric in unique and beautiful designs.
The beautiful old house of the 137
Pillars House is the perfect location as it matches the 19th
century collection in mood, after viewing the textiles enjoy a cocktail in
the beautifully appointed lounge.
One of the
many beautiful antique textiles on display at the exhibition, all the
textiles are for sale and proceeds will be donated to a local charity.
Rene
explains the usage and meaning of the textiles as Alfa Hugelmann listens in.
A few more
of the 19th century textiles that 137 Pillars House staff spent all day
hanging and preparing for the show.
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Uab Sanasen – a Musical Tribute to a Great Thai Artist
Violinist Tasana Nagavajara
accompanied by the wonderful pianist Pornphan Banternghansa performed in
honor of honored Thai artist Uab Sanasen who passed away two years ago.
Uab Sanasen passed away two years ago. He was a great
artist whose paintings broke all the conventional bounds as he set new
standards and forged new directions for artists to follow. His work is
magnificent even though the more conservative might find some of it a little
avant-garde.
To remember this man and his prolific
work, Chiang Mai University Faculty of Arts hosted a memorial concert in the
presence of Uab’s family on Sunday afternoon, April 29th when
Thailand’s finest exponent of the violin, Tasana Nagavajara accompanied by
the wonderful pianist Pornphan Banternghansa gave us a most impressive
concert. Why a violin recital, you may ask? Well, Uab was a violinist as
well as an artist – in fact his first intention was to become a violinist
but as fate decreed, this was not to be. Nevertheless he collected a huge
amount of music which he played from time to time between his painting and
it was from this collection that Tasana chose the music for the memorial
recital.
The recital opened with a violin sonata
by the Baroque composer Corelli –a really challenging and difficult piece
which is a long set of variations on a simple theme known as La Folia. The
playing was immaculate – sonorous, airy, colourful and imaginative – just
the same as many of Uab’s own paintings. Following this came one of Dvorak’s
most tender inspirations – his Opus 100 violin sonatina in G major. Dvorak
wrote this piece when he knew he would return home from his long stay in the
United States and the music is bursting with lyrical melodies and nuances
that speak so nostalgically of his love for his homeland. This is not easy
music to play – I once heard an eminent musician remark that only a Czech
musician could ever capture the essence and spirit of Czech music – Tasana
and Pornphan came very close to that – the playing was forceful when it
needed to be, delicate by contrast but overall the nostalgia was captured
eloquently by both players from the opening melody through to the final
movement. Uab would have been proud of their performance.
The second half was devoted to the
famous English violin virtuoso piece, The Lark Ascending by Ralph
Vaughan-Williams and four pieces by Austrian composer Fritz Kreisler. These
works were amazing contrasts – the first full of floating high melodies
evocatively portraying the lark high above; the second set was a collection
of well-known favourite melodies by a man who popularized the classical
violin not just in his homeland but throughout the world – both performers
gave us impeccable interpretations.
Nothing could have been more fitting as
a tribute to a man who loved so much the beauty of the world. With a few
opening remarks from Uab’s daughter and flowers presented by Uab’s widow at
the end, we were honoured to be in the presence of such fine musicians while
reflecting on the like of a great man. Outside the intense heat had been
tempered by a little rain – walking out into the fresher air afterwards
where the ratchapeuk (laburnum) trees were all in their finest yellow glory
was like stepping into a new world – and nothing could have been a more
fitting tribute to celebrate the life of a wonderful artist who left us with
such a brilliant new world in his paintings.
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Quite Extraordinary Performances – Chomchat Silarat in Recital
Sixteen-year-old Chomchat
Silarat being presented with a gift after her stunning performance on
Saturday April 28th
By Jai Pee
This last weekend, the 27th
and 28th April, the winner of the Bangkok Beethoven Competition,
Chomchat (Palmy) Silarat presented two exhilarating and scintillating
recitals for the Friends of Music Making in Chiang Mai at Santi’s Music
School. No wonder she won the Beethoven competition, and indeed, also last
year the Silpakorn Suumer Music School’s piano concerto competition. She is
a superstar in the making. Several members of the audience were moved to
tears by her amazing touch and deep understanding of the music she was
playing. Her opening Bach Prelude and Fugue, a challenging piece, was played
with precision, excellent control and with some startling arpeggios – but
this was just the start of two radiant evenings – Palmy moved on to the
beautiful Beethoven ‘Les Adieux’ Piano Sonata which was played impeccably.
She captured the nostalgic spirit of this great sonata so eloquently, this
piece being dedicated to one of Beethoven’s patrons who was leaving Vienna
as the French forces approached – hence the title. The opening chords that
spell out the message ‘Le-Be-Wol’ (Farewell) were played with just
the right amount of nostalgia and depth – setting the scene for the
sparkling and at times dazzling passages that follow – Palmy coped with all
of these as if it were second nature, handling the difficult transitional
sections of the development sections with a mastery quite astonishing for
one so young – just sixteen years old.
This was the second time this month
that the Friends have sponsored newly emerging Thai talent – both times with
first-class results and the audiences have responded rapturously. Palmy’s
control, contrasts and arpeggios in the Chopin second scherzo were equally
amazing – she has a rare gift for understanding every nuance and technically
her performance throughout was quite superb. She continued with a show-piece
by Liszt and the evocative L’Ile Joyeux by Debussy – each piece played with
great fervour, technical skill and total immersion into the music. Her
finger-work was a joy to watch and the way in which she captured the essence
of the music by these contrasting composers was nothing short of amazing.
These were recitals to savour and remember for a long time. Palmy will be
off to Bonn in Germany to the International Beethoven Festival later this
year – at the invitation of the three judges who awarded her first prize in
the competition in Bangkok last year – and no wonder – this young woman has
learnt so much already, much of it due to the first class tutelage of Dr
Pornphan Banternghansa who herself has been invited to play in Bayreuth in
August and who will be giving the Friends a preview of her German recital
here in Chiang Mai in July. We wish them both the best of good fortune as
they take the Thai flag to foreign shores.
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