Whats so special about Thai films?
Since the beginning of the 21st century, Thai films have become a mainstay on the international film festival circuit. Internationally, the Thai films that have gained big reputations are action films like Ong-Bak, horror like Shutter, cult-film like Tears of the Black Tiger and arthouse such as Tropical Malady or Last Life in the Universe. Thai films are just like films from anywhere in the world: They tell a story. But Thai films are imbued with aspects of Thai culture, the language, as well as Buddhism and belief in ghosts, which makes them different from films from other Asian countries. Some of the most entertaining Thai films take things to extremes: bone-jarring violence, scream-out-loud scares, gut-wrenching heartbreaks, debilitating sadness and just plain craziness. It’s hard to define, but there’s a certain loopy quality about Thai films. By all means, if you are in Thailand, you should see a Thai film and find out what all the excitement is about.
