A short history of Thai cinema
The history of Thai cinema goes back to the very beginnings of film, when King Chulalongkorn was immortalized on film in 1897 during a visit to Bern. Returning to Thailand with the film, the monarch screened it and introduced the seventh art to his family, as well as to local entrepreneurs who quickly invested in the medium. The Thai film industry thus developed gradually over the decades, passing through various phases and evolutions.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Thai cinema was mainly influenced by Indian and Chinese cinema. Silent comedy, action and adventure films drew large crowds, even if most of them have since been lost. It was at this time that the first stars of Thai cinema emerged. But by the 1930s, the national silent film industry was rapidly losing ground to Japanese and American imports. A new golden age of national cinema began in 1932 with the first Thai talkie, Long Thang, a popular success that boosted the country's industry.
In the decades that followed, Thai cinema continued to develop, thanks to ever more numerous and larger studios, an economy based on film dubbing and light production, and growing public demand. Sometimes to the detriment of quality, but always with great success.
During this period, Thai cinema also crossed borders and conquered international festivals. Rattana Pestonji, considered the father of modern Thai cinema, presented his films in Tokyo(Santi-Vina, 1954) and Berlin(Prae Dum, 1961). The 1980s and 1990s saw the development of action cinema in the country, as well as the emergence of new talents in documentaries, social and political activism, and horror films. Among the great names of this era were Nonzee Nimibutr (Nang Nak, 1999), Pen-ek Ratanaruang(Fun Bar Karaoke, 1997) and Wisit Sasanatieng(Black Tiger's Tears, 2000). Today, Thai cinema is one of the most diverse in the world, ranging from large-scale commercial productions to award-winning independent auteur films. Most recently, filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul, who won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2010 for Uncle Boonmee, the man who remembers his past lives, starred with Tilda Swinton in the captivating Memoria, one of the great films of 2021, also awarded the Prix du Jury at Cannes. Proof that Thai cinema continues to evolve and adapt to the challenges and opportunities of the global film industry, while at the same time being an important reflection of Thai culture and identity, with talented directors exploring local and universal themes through their films.
From Phuket to Koh Lanta, breathtaking filming locations
If the name Koh Lanta brings to mind the cult TV show adapted from the American Survivor series, you should know that this is just one of the many productions filmed in the region. In fact, did you know that only the first season was actually filmed in Mu Ko Lanta National Park? The production then moved on to Costa Rica, French Polynesia and Fiji, in equally impressive settings.
However, film buffs will be delighted to rediscover the many filming locations in and around Phuket, which has hosted several episodes of the James Bond saga, as well as Leonardo DiCaprio and even Star Wars characters. The most famous of these settings is undoubtedly the island of Khao Phing Kan, in Phang Nga Bay. Home to The Man with the Golden Gun in the eponymous episode of Agent 007's adventures, released in 1974, this is where we witness the final confrontation between Francisco Scaramanga (played by the charismatic Christopher Lee) and James Bond (Roger Moore at the height of his powers). A scene that has become cult thanks to its unique setting, and has earned the island the nickname James Bond Island. Twenty-three years later, Bond (this time as Pierce Brosnan) returns to Phang Nga Bay to track down the Machiavellian Elliot Carver (Jonathan Pryce), this time concealed on a stealth boat. Another anthology sequence in a saga that's decidedly keen on taking us on the road.
In terms of stars, the region was also lucky enough to welcome a dashing young Leonardo DiCaprio, fresh from the success of Titanic (1997). In Danny Boyle's The Beach (2000), he plays a vicar searching for a paradisiacal beach in Thailand's most remote areas. The film crews took us on a tour of the most beautiful corners of the region, from Maya Bay to the waterfalls of Khao Yai National Park , via Phuket and Krabi. The film also features a young Guillaume Canet and Tilda Swinton.
Thailand also makes a brief appearance in the third episode of the Star Wars saga, where the Bay of Phang Nga, decidedly cinematic, serves as the backdrop for the planet Kashyyyk, birthplace of the well-known Chewbacca.
On the TV side, those who have followed the hit series Temptation Island closely may recognize the backdrop of Koh Samui, the island where the series has been filmed since 2002. And if this type of show isn't to your taste, you can at least enjoy these beautiful settings while sipping your favorite cocktail away from the big and small screens.
Is there a cinema in the area?
Of course you can! Many cinemas offer films in English or in their original version, and international blockbusters can be seen here as elsewhere. In Phuket itself, head to the SFX Coliseum for state-of-the-art cinemas in a modern multiplex. For the more curious, head to the C.E. Paradise Multiplex, one of the city's oldest cinemas still in operation.
