#BKKY
$12 General Admission
$9 Student/Senior
$7 Member
Discussion
Featuring a panel discussion with Dr. Wiworn Kesavatana, Thai language and literature teacher.
About
** Co-presented with the Seattle Asian American Film Festival **
Controversial director Nontawat Numbenchapol pushes the boundaries of documentary filmmaking with his unconventional third feature. Numbenchapol interviewed 100 young Bangkokites who are transitioning between high school and university about the happiest moments of their lives. With those stories he created an offbeat fantasy tale told by a fictional narrator named Jojo. Is it a documentary? Is it a traditional narrative film? Either way, it’s a captivating and vividly imaginative work that encapsulates the experience of growing up in modern Bangkok.
The film is based on interviews with Thai teenagers between the ages of 17 and 19, with diverse gender identities. They share their experiences, personal life, and attitude towards their social life in Bangkok, their hometown and the capital of Thailand. Common themes of coming of age, confusion with dreams and love, and parenting emerge among these stories.
Dr. Wiworn Kesavatana
Dr. Wiworn recently retired after 27 years of teaching Thai language and literature at the University of Washington, and is the author of the popular Thai language-learning text Everyday Thai for Beginners. In addition to her university work she has provided cultural orientation sessions for groups and individuals preparing to visit and work in Thailand, ranging from graduate students, to business executives and members of the military.
#BKKY introduces aspects of Thailand’s unique acceptance of gender fluidity, and Dr. Wiworn will be discussing those and any other nuances of Thai culture that arise after the film.