Big Screen, Little News | Bangkok Post: Arts & Culture

Entertainment's HIGHS & LOWS in2011

The news is there's no big news. In 2011 the Thai film scene trudged along, with some high hopes and no superfluous fears. No films were banned, and bad movies far outnumbered decent ones _ around 50 Thai titles have been released this year, about a dozen of them independent productions. It's a period of stability and slow growth and borderline boredom. All for the best.

Legend of King Naresuan

But if we look closely, the film news of 2011 flew circumspectly under the radar, even to those who assisted in making those films. Most importantly, a number of notable Thai films in 2011 _ either in boxoffice or artistic terms, or the sheer number of available elephants _ are those that received financial help from last year's Thai Khem Khang campaign under the Ministry of Culture. There's no such fund this year _ and neither next year _ which is a major shame considering that the first effort, though marred by some doubt about the selection process, has yielded quite an interesting harvest.