a river's Tale (สายน้ำลูกผู้หญิง)

Film by Rutaiwan  Wongsirasawad
 pawas@localcolorfilms.co.th

Director's Statement

Thai women are constantly compared to water in Thai proverbs. The iconic ones are “clear and cool water trickling gently along the brooks”. To be socially accepted, women “keep the murky water inside, show only clear water to the world”.

     The good mothers pass this belief on to daughters from generation to generation like a river runs without a break. Preaching these rules to daughters brings mothers high praise from society.


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Find more Director's Statement... /Synopsis / Production Plan and Schedule / Contact Information

     As nature tells us ,“Still water runs deep.” Women are no exception. Daughter, mother, grandmother, women share emotional space, make mistakes, and break social norms. Then why mother has to be good and daughter has to be even better? Are we women born hypocrite?

      This movie tells the story of two main female characters both in parallel fashion and crashes of thoughts, dialogues and behaviors. It talks about a sensitive issue of pregnancy and abortion that challenges moral codes but reveals the true nature of female human beings, in the very Thai context, of course.

     Setting in an atmosphere of an old Thai livelihood on the shore of a calm and beautiful river that runs torrents deep down under, the movie gives water another main character role.   

     Dramatic approach is the way chosen to tell this story, and like all classic dramas, it aims to get audience look into themselves. No preach, no judgment, I just want to make a point “ No matter what obstacles are, a river shall run.”

SYNOPSIS

Jaem, a 24 years old woman, is a columnist for a men magazine. With hope to get married soon, she spends time searching for a wedding gown. Too bad the happy moments are interrupted by a trip home on the riverside of a small province away from Bangkok. She has to attend her Grandfather’s funeral.

    Just before entering the household, Jaem becomes nauseous and throws up into the river, but she makes it through the tormenting night with the help of her grandmother’s old medicine. Jaem tries calling her boyfriend to break the unexpected news but he doesn’t pick up the phone and never calls back. She knows she’s pregnant but she doesn’t know how to even start telling this to

her mother Rachanee who’s a schoolteacher in this sub-district. 

     At the funeral, Jaem manages to hold her secret but her mother cannot. A lady turns up and spits the word ‘ Slut’ onto the well-respected woman. Jaem gets back to Bangkok to solve her problem. She roams around looking for her boyfriend. Without luck she moves on to see a doctor. Abortion is in the air. Her mother breaks away from the scandal that she is a mistress of the school principal. As excuse she comes to see Jaem with a highly recommended advice, which is not granted. A fight takes place ending up with the mother drowns in a river.

   The situation forces Jaem to return to hometown. Luckily grandma is there for her. Both spend slow lives waiting for a child to be born. They do not talk about Jaem’s mom.

     Rachanee actually is saved by some passers by and hides herself from grief and pain being a nun. As if it works. A baby girl was delivered with a long time friend/ secret admirer of Jaem admitting as the father. Family members get together to moral support the new mother but on the happy day a boat of life carries grandma away.

   At the funeral, Rachanee appears to pay homage to her mother as well as asking for forgiveness. As if she needs to. Soaking wet at her home’s door way, the nun realizes what mother needs most is her only daughter. As the new mother knows now how she misses this shoulder to cry on.

    7 years passes by, grandmother Rachanee claims to be a guru of life. Actually, while teaching Jaem Junior, she herself learns how to swim in the river again.

Production Plan
FUNDING : APRIL – AUGUST 2011

PRE-PRODUCTION: SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2011

    Screenplay: September 2011

    Casting: September 2011

    Location scouting: September 2011

    Shot blocking: October 2011

PRODUCTION: NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2011

POST-PRODUCTION: JANUARY – FEBUARY 2012

    Off line editing: January 2012

    Online editing: January 2012

    Sound & score: January 2012

    CG & SFX: February 2012

    Final print: February 2012


Technical Information
Original Title

Sai Nam Luke Pu Ying

English Title

A River's Tale

Director

Rutaiwan Wongsirasawat

Producer

Pawas Sawatchaiyamet

Financing Plan

Net Budget - 360,000 Euro  ( 14,760,000 Baht )

(currency exchange approx. ~ 41 Bht.= 1 Euro)
- Budget Confirmed to present :   48,780 Euro (2,000,000 Baht) - 13.55%
- Target Budget Earning (Thailand Investor) : 195,120 Euro (8,000,000 Baht) - 54.20% 
- Target Budget Earning (Festival /Foreign Investor) : 116,097 Euro (476,0000 Baht)  - 32.25%


CONTACT INFORMATION

Pawas Sawatchaiyamet

Local Color Films Co,Ltd

3/9 Ramindra Soi 26, Ramindra Rd.,

Tarang, Bangkhen, Bangkok 10230

Thailand

Tel: +662 943 7714

Fax: +662 943 6022

Emai: pawas@localcolorfilms.co.th

           faa@localcolorfilms.co.th
Website: http://www.localcolorfilms.co.th