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Time Out
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Four experimental Thai films from the early 2000s return at Bangkok Kunsthalle
A ghostly trace runs through Fathom in Absence, the first in a series of guest-curated film programmes at Bangkok Kunsthalle. These are not just films, but cinematic relics from the early 2000s – forgotten, fragmented and half-remembered, like dreams recalled mid-commute. The programme resurrects four Thai experimental works, each shrouded in its own particular strangeness, screened on Saturday evenings across May (May 3, 17 and 31). Organised in collaboration with the Thai Film Archive, the series avoids nostalgia in favour of excavation. Here, the past isn't polished; it flickers, uneven and unsteady. Screened on Saturday evenings throughout May, each film arrives like a message in a bottle from a cinematic era many have tried to forget or never knew existed. They are not tidy cultural artefacts; they are jagged, unresolved and defiantly strange. Their return feels less like a retrospective and more like a séance. Entry is free – an invitation rather than a transaction – and each work will be shown in its original Thai with English subtitles. These are films that resist easy summary and, frankly, demand to be seen rather than explained. But if you're wondering what to expect, here's the lineup: May 3, 7pm The Cruelty and the Soy-Sauce Man+ (2000), directed by Phaisit Phanphruksachat May 17, 5.30pm Mae Nak (1992), directed by Pimpaka Towira May 17, 6.20pm (after a 15-minute intermission) Kon Jorn (1999), directed by Attaporn Thihirun More details about talks and discussions will be announced soon, though it's safe to assume this isn't the sort of programme that wraps things up with neat Q&As. Instead, it gestures towards the elliptical, the marginal and the unresolved. The Kunsthalle isn't simply screening films – it's calling them back. And perhaps, in watching, you're not just a spectator. You're a witness.
Time Out
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Thailand's oldest wooden cinema reopens after 30 years
Thailand's last standing wooden cinema powers up its projector again on April 26, marking the end of 30 years in the dark. Starting from 3pm, the Nang Loeng district turns into a full-on neighbourhood celebration with local market stalls, live music and strong community vibes. No snoozing. Free movie tickets are up for grabs from 5.30pm. A special film chat starts sharp at 6pm. First come, first served. Get in early to claim yours. This comeback, brought to life by the Crown Property Bureau, Thai Film Archive and Nang Loeng locals, kicks off with serious nostalgia. The screening of My Wonder Year (1993) takes you back to the theatre in its prime, with scenes filmed right there before it closed. Director King Somching Srisupap will also chat with the audience before the film, joined by Thai screen icons Saksit Tangthong and Patiparn Pataweekarn. Sala Chalerm Thani is an architectural time capsule – a rare wooden survivor in a concrete jungle. While Bangkok races forward and the city evolves around it, this wooden structure remains intact. Come see this architectural unicorn for yourself before another 30 years slip by. Since parking can be a nightmare, we recommend taking a motorbike taxi or hopping on buses 2, 8, 44, 59, 60, 79, 183, 511, A4 or S1 to Wat Khae Nang Loeng; bus 49 to Nang Loeng Post Office; or the MRT to Sam Yot station followed by a short walk.
Time Out
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Bangkok celebrates anniversary with free outdoor film screenings at National Museum
Bangkok is the kind of place where gleaming towers rise beside centuries-old temples – a city of contrasts that somehow just gels. And this year, the Big Mango turned 243 on April 21. To mark the occasion, the capital's buzzing with events, with all sorts of public and private organisations joining in the celebrations. One highlight comes from the Thai Film Archive, who've teamed up with the Ministry of Culture to host outdoor film screenings in the National now until April 27, the main courtyard of the museum is transforming into a cosy outdoor cinema, screening films that capture the city's history, culture, and the everyday chaos that makes it so full of life. The lineup includes a mix you probably didn't see coming: war sagas, urban thrillers, nostalgic throwbacks and even a horror flick. Best of all, it's free, with screenings starting at 7pm each night. Unfortunately, only two films in the programme feature English subtitles. The first, See Siam Through The State Railway Film Collection, will screen on April 23. Completed in 2024, this flick brings together silent historical footage, accompanied by a newly composed instrumental score. It gives us a glimpse into Siam from the 1920s to early 1930s, showcasing everything from palace ceremonies to everyday life and the landscapes of a past next film is Dan Sab (The Cursed Land, 2024), playing on April 27. This psychological horror delves into a lesser-known chapter of Bangkok's history, focusing on a Muslim community in the city's eastern suburbs. It follows the eerie tale of a father and daughter who move to Nong Chok, a Muslim area on the outskirts of the capital, only to encounter a vengeful djinn that's been trapped since the early days of the Rattanakosin only two films have English subtitles, there's still plenty to enjoy. On other days, you can catch Thai classics like romantic Tawiphop (1990) or supernatural drama Sunday is Luk Bah Tiew La Sood (Crazy Me, 1993) to get a feel for Thai cinema. After all, the museum at night and an outdoor screening are an experience in themselves.
