Bangkok Post : Outlook : 7/1/09

Every Thursday this month a group of cinema buffs brace bustling Bangkok traffic to arrive at Thammasat University, Tha Phra Chan campus at 5pm. Their destination is Pridi Banomyong Library's activity room where they are to take part in a free weekly film programme "Movie Talk".

Viewers watch an animated film during the ‘Movie Talk’ programme, hosted by Songyote Waeohongsa of Silpakorn University.

For over 10 years the programme - a screening of so-called non-mainstream films and a brief discussion hosted by Songyote Waeohongsa of Silpakorn University - is part and parcel of this library since its opening. Open to the public, the programme is held parallel with the school schedule: From June to September and November to February.

Named after the late Rewat Buddhinan, the legendary musician and big boss of Grammy, the small underground room contains 80 seats in five rows. The films, primarily of non-Hollywood type, are from Songyote's private collection.

Located in the basement of the library the activity room was an initiative of Nualchawee Suthamwong, who was then head of the Thammasat Library Bureau. She wanted to renovate the existing audio-visual room in the old central library.

"We had hoped to open the Pridi Banomyong Library in June of 1997 to replace the worn-out central library. However, the audio visual equipment from the old library was in such poor condition that it needed a major revamp. But there was no budget allocated for this," she said, referring to her efforts to upgrade the audio-visual room into an activity room.

Nualchawee approached the Rewat Buddhinan Foundation after learning that they had money reserved for charity purposes. Both Rewat and his wife are alumni of Thammasat University.

The foundation gave a positive response to her project, agreeing to provide the necessary equipment since the library did not accept cash. It also gave some keepsake in memory of Rewat - such as posters and photos when he was a member of the now-defunct pop band, the Impossibles - including his note sheets, a guitar and other personal effects.

Yet the film screening programme was quite a stir at the time, she recalls.

"Some people still wanted to manage the library in a conventional way. That meant that there should be no other items except books in the library. But in my opinion, the place would be dull without other activities. Films with discussion and musical programmes should fit that emptiness," she said, adding her project attracted criticism from some university officials who regarded it as a "waste of money".

But film watching, she argues, can be a kind of learning activity. "To begin with ... an individual can improve their language skills [by watching films in English or those with English correct sub-titles]," she said. And on top of that, films, if well selected, can help broaden the audience's perspective.

Posters and photos of the late Rewat Buddhinan on display in cabinets in front of the activity room at Thammasat University’s Pridi Banomyong Library, Tha Phra Chan campus.

Nualchawee says she invited Songyote Waeohongsa, a lecturer at Silpakorn University's Arts Faculty, to join the programme when it first launched. From Songyote's many connections, DK Film House also joined the programme and hosted a separate film screening on Sundays in the afternoon.

"With long experience in film talk Songyote was the most suited choice for the job, which is of voluntary nature," she said, referring to the lecturer's similar programme at Silpakorn University's library at Thab Kaew campus and takes place on Mondays.

Songyote says the cinema at Silpakorn University, which began in the 1980s, was named Rongnang Rangkhai or A Nestling Film Theatre.

"It was given such a name because we placed paper egg-containers on the walls to minimise the sound echo. More importantly, the university film theatre serves more like a nestling place where viewers are groomed," he added.

Such "grooming" may lead to a new group of quality viewers, he says. "Some may become film critics or writers, others may remain film enthusiasts."

Initially, his movie talk at Pridi Banomyong Library began with a short introduction before screening, which is wrapped up with a discussion with the lecturer as a host, handling questions and observations from the viewers.

He cherishes the post-screening view exchanges among the viewers, saying "some people may see and hear what others may have missed from the films and share them during the discussion".

He says he tends to choose films that he has not seen before.

"I'd rather follow the films together with my viewers. That gives a fresh experience."

He is strict to the idea of alternative films, saying the programme, at Thammasat and Silpakorn should not be redundant with commercial cinemas and film rental shops. Songyote says he has turned down a call for a compromise at his Rongnang Rangkhai - that the programme accommodates mainstream films - to make it more attractive to general viewers, particularly young students.

He maintained that the university cinemas should provide film alternatives and diversity. 

The only compromise he did make was that his films, unlike the Sunday programme - which seeks to primarily satisfy hardcore viewers - are not too abstract or it would be difficult to follow.

At times, the films coincide with world or national events, he says. For instance, war films are occasionally screened in the programme. But instead of promoting heroism, Songyote says his movie picks are those that represent small soldiers as human beings. These, for instance, include Burmese Harp and Fires on the Plain (both Japanese productions).

Drawing from the films the viewers are able to understand human weakness better, he says.

"More interestingly, by watching such films like Batman, we have found that people tend to put all their hopes in 'super-human' beings. The Magnificent Seven, a Hollywood adaptation of Japanese Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, reflects the dire need of outside help for poor people." 

The current programme comprises award-winning works from Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. There are smaller Hollywood collections, too. Most of the works are chosen simply because of the director, the lead actors or the awards it has won, he shares.

Songyote says the number of viewers is small - somewhere between 10 to 30 people - at each showing, and students remain a minority at both universities. "But that is not the problem," he maintained.

According to Songyote, the programme's regulars are people from various professionals from bookshop owners, painters and artists to university graduates and office employees.

Sukanya Makutonrudee, a senior official at Pridi Banomyong Library, says the film talk serves a public service.

"The university is lucky to have Ajarn Songyote. He is highly knowledgeable at this voluntary job. And without him, the library would have never emerged."

Saranpat Piriyaprasit, a viewer who recently graduated from Silpakorn University's Arts Faculty, says she is a member at Songyote's Rongnang Rangkhai. Now that she's finished her studies, Saranpat regularly drops by the Thammasat programme in her free time.

When asked what attracted her to the programme, she replied, with a giggle: "It's free. And it's a good programme. The films are rare and thought-provoking. You can't find that at commercial movie cinemas."

At the end of each programme show Songyote affirms that he has kept his hopes up over the years.

"It is my hope that this programme will have some effect on audiences."