To mark the 120th anniversary of the birth of Thailand's former prime minister Pridi Banomyong, the Film Archive (Public Organization) presents online screenings of two movies related to the senior statesman who played a vital role in Thailand becoming a constitutional monarchy and was named one of the world's great personalities of the century by Unesco in 2000.
The first is the footage of the victory march of the Free Thai (Seri Thai) Movement featuring 8,000 soldiers fully armed with weapons from the Allied forces. Led by Pridi, the parade took place along Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue on Sept 25, 1945, one month after the end of World War II, to declare Thai independence and sovereignty and nullify any war status between Thailand and any member of the Allies, including the US and Britain. The 5-minute film can be viewed on youtube.com/watch?v=qLiOfUqBaN0.
The second is Phra Chao Chang Phuek (The King Of The White Elephant), a 1941 English-language Thai film produced and written by Pridi himself. Lasting 100 minutes, the movie premiered in Thailand, the US and Singapore simultaneously on April 4, 1941, with the aim of spreading the message of peace to international countries during the onset of the World War II. It can be viewed on youtube.com/watch?v=uiu7-X0Kh_U.
For those wishing to learn more about the background of Phra Chao Chang Phuek, they can read a four-part Thai article which provides a glimpse of its production, the message it carried and why it was praised as a movie for the Thai nation and all humanity. The article was written back in 2001 to commemorate the film's 60th anniversary. It's available on fapot.or.th/main/information/article/view/250.
Both films are also in the playlist of the "Keep A Distance During Covid-19". Visit youtube.com/FilmArchiveThailand.
A scene from Phra Chao Chang Phuek. Film Archive (Public Organization)
