Title | My Grandpa’s Route has been Forever Blocked |
---|---|
Director | Supaparinya Sutthirat |
Country | Thailand |
VDP Selection Year | Peoplae and Nature-2014 |
Screen Time | 15min |
Language | Thai |
Subtitles | English/ Japanese |
Tags | Dam Construction, River, Environmental Destruction, Ships, Touristry |
Overview
In this documentary, Supaparinya Sutthirat takes us on a journey down the Ping River, a waterway that has historically been used for trade. It reflects upon the evolving river-scape comparing the river of now to that of the one that existed during his Grandfather’ s time. In 1958, the Bhumibol Dam was built, effectively changing the landscape. Sutthirat takes the viewer on a journey down the present Ping River in an attempt to understand the past and observe issues in the present. Using an innovative split screen technique, the video invites viewer s to reflect on small weirs, floodgates, and dikes lying sequentially from the source of the river to the Bhumibol Dam while taking the viewer on a boat cruise to contextualize the impact of changes on the river.


Supaparinya Sutthirat
Director
Supaparinya Sutthirat is video and installation artist. She obtained a BFA in Pa inting from the Faculty of Fine Arts at Chiang Mai University and a postgraduate degree in Media Arts from Hochschule Für Grafik und Buchkunst i n Leipzig, Germany. She lives and works in Chiang Mai, Thailand and is a member of the Chiangmai Art Converstation, an artist initiative promoting contermporary art and culture in Chiang Mai.
Interview with the Director
Why did you make this documentary?
The Ping River is a historical route for teakwood export, Siamese-European trade and also an important part of my family’ s history. My maternal grandfather was a chief manager for the timber transport that moved teakwood from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. His life was mysterious to us, since it took him more than 3 months to complete his job. The journey along the Ping River and a bo at trip helped me to understand what my grandfather had experie nced; at the same time I could observe other issues that have arisen in my time. The work also led my interest in the impact of electricity generation.
Related Films
-
Don’t know much about ABC
This documentary offers an intimate portrayal of a relationship between a father and his son, and the challenges of homeless life on the streets of Phnom Penh. Drawing out the importance of education in opening opportunities to improve one’s lot in life, it traces the everyday challenges that Ron Dara faces raising his son.- Country
- Cambodia
- Director
- Norm Phanith and Sok Chanrado
- Time
- 22min
-
An Unquiet Land
Owning a piece of land of more than 1000 square meters in An Phu Ward, Thu Thiem, New Urban Project of Ho Chi Minh city, Mrs. Hong, age 74 was lucky enough to have her land lot spared from being razed, while her five children were not. Her only wish now is to be able to keep the land for herself and her children.- Country
- Vietnam
- Director
- Nguyen Thi Khanh Ly
- Time
- 28min
-
Madame Lien’s Factory
“Madame Lien” is the head of third generation of her family to take over a shipyard where traditional wooden boats are built. Existing along the banks of the Mekong River for almost a century, it has witnessed many drastic times of changes. Today, sustainable development has become a goal along the river, yet parallel to this, as cities modernize, traditional values are gradually disappearing. This documentary focuses on Madame Lien and her efforts to keep the shipyard afloat. It dwells upon how it gives her life meaning as she remembers how she fought to preserve it in the past. This documentary poignantly presents a person with compassion toward her workers, her relationship with them, and how they have trusted and followed her their whole lives.- Country
- Vietnam
- Director
- Nguyen Thu Huong
- Time
- 30min