''Mundane History'' () is a 2009 film by the Thai film-maker

Anocha Suwichakornpong Anocha Suwichakornpong (, born 1976) is a Thai independent film director, screenwriter and producer. She is currently Professor of Film at Columbia University, where she advises thesis students in the MFA Film Program and teaches film directing. ...

. She wrote, co-produced and directed the film. It is described as “one of the most startling and original feature debuts of recent years", and received its world premiere on 10 October 2009 at the

14th Busan International Film Festival The 14th Busan International Film Festival was held from October 8 to October 16, 2009, in Busan, South Korea. A total of 355 films from over 70 countries were screened, beating the record set in the last festival. With a total attendance of 173, ...

in South Korea. It was the first Thai film to receive the country's most restrictive viewing rating, due to a scene of full-frontal male nudity and masturbation. Mundane History won the Tiger Award at the 2010

International Film Festival Rotterdam International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) is an annual film festival held at the end of January in various locations in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, focused on independent and experimental films. The inaugural festival took place in June 1972, ...

Plot

Mundane History centres on the friendship that develops between a young paralysed man from a wealthy

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...

family and his male nurse from

Isan Northeast Thailand or Isan (Isan language, Isan/, ; ; also written as Isaan, Isarn, Issarn, Issan, Esan, or Esarn; from Pāli ''isāna'' or Sanskrit ईशान्य ''īśānya'' "northeast") consists of 20 provinces in northeastern Thai ...

in the North of Thailand. The film is also a commentary on Thailand's class-based society and the frailty of life. It premiered at the 2009

Pusan International Film Festival The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF; ), formerly the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), held annually in Haeundae District, Busan, South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. The first festival, held from ...

, where it was in the New Currents competition and also opened the

World Film Festival of Bangkok The World Film Festival of Bangkok () is an annual international film festival held in Bangkok, Thailand. The 15th World Film Festival of Bangkok, the latest edition of World Film Festival of Bangkok, is held from December 2 to December 11, 2022. ...

. It made its European Premiere in the Tiger Awards competition at the

, and was among the three films in 15-title line-up that won the Tiger Award.

Main cast

*Arkaney Cherkam as Pun *Paramej Noiam as Father *Anchana Ponpitakthepkijo as Somjai *Phakpoom Surapongsanuruk as Ake

Production

Made for $150,000, ''Mundane History'' was financed by the filmmaker's family and friends as well as grants and awards from the Hubert Bals Fund of the

Rotterdam International Film Festival International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) is an annual film festival held at the end of January in various locations in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, focused on independent and experimental films. The inaugural festival took place in June 1972, ...

Rating

Featuring a scene of full-frontal male nudity and masturbation, it was the first

Thai film The cinema of Thailand dates back to the History of film, early days of filmmaking, when Chulalongkorn, King Chulalongkorn's 1897 visit to Bern, Switzerland was recorded by François-Henri Lavancy-Clarke. The film was then brought to Bangkok, whe ...

under Thailand's motion-picture rating system to be given the most-restrictive 20+ rating.

References

External links