“How do we measure Thainnes?”
This string of words from a set of light boards seems to form a solid sentence serving as an essential question that drives the narrative of No Exorcism Film (Komtouch Napattaloong, 2024). Director Napattaloong explores his personal journey in learning the roots of self-identity in Thailand through film. In No Exorcism Film (2024), he projects his interpretation of Thailand’s collective memory through a narrative of suffering. The audiovisual compositions combined in this psychedelic series of visual arts offer a sensory experience that makes us feel the pain and attempts at comfort from multiple bodies, voices and perspectives, all of which are assimilated into the audience seamlessly.
Through a series of visualizations sourced from various historical events in Thailand centered on the image of this country in the director’s perspective, touching on the daily conditions of society, the crisis of democracy; the conflict and violence from activists’ call for monarchy reform, and the power of the military, the film presents a narrative of two voices that dialogue with each other in a transcendent room. He traces painful memories of his body’s history in Thailand. All the words seem to collide without a crystal clear context of the story at the beginning, but lead to several areas of discussion: death and loss; a warlord; and the reconciliation of a mother with a child who is a victim of the state’s violence.
Visual rhythms and narratives about religion, modernity, and the history of violence come together in the abstract visual equivalent of No Exorcism Film (2024) to form a gesture towards making peace with all multi-interpretative experiences of suffering. You can watch it through Docs Docs: Short! Program and in the exhibition available only on FFD 2024. (Gantar Sinaga) (Ed. Vanis/Trans. Naufal Shabri)
Film Details
No Exorcism Film
Komtouch Napattaloong | 20 Min | 2024 | Thailand
Official Selection for Docs Docs: Short!
Festival Film Dokumenter 2024
Screening Schedule
Nov. 5 | 15:00 WIB | Ruang Seminar, TBY
Nov. 7 | 15:30 WIB | Militaire Societeit, TBY
Nov. 2–9 | 10:00–19:00 WIB | Ruang Pameran, TBY
