[FACT comments: We think Apichatpong has come up with rather an elegant solution. The black scenes will have great impact and generate public reaction.]
Censorship ‘Syndromes’ and silence
Parinyaporn Pajee
Daily Xpress: March 17, 2008
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/03/17/headlines/headlines_30068334.php
Acclaimed but banned, Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s ‘Sang Sattawat’ (Syndromes and a Century) will screen in Thailand at the Thai Film Foundation with six scenes the censors cut replaced by silent, scratched black frames - the longest of which runs for seven minutes…”It’s cynical, but actually it’s a statement for the audience to make them aware that they are being blinded from getting information in this society,” says the director…The censors characterised the film as “non-artistic” and said it harmed the nation’s image and its institutions…The film was made as a tribute to Apichatpong’s parents, both physicians, but the censors didn’t see it that way, saying his parents should feel ashamed of the depiction of their lives…The director says he’s angry and feels stupid for trying to work within the system.
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