After interviewing his father in his recent documentary When My Father Was a Communist (เมื่อพ่อผมเป็นคอมมิวนิสต์), Vichart Somkaew has turned the camera on himself for his new documentary short Antipsychotics. At the start of the film, Vichart reveals that he suffers from depression. In a voiceover, he describes his symptoms, which include hallucinations and feelings of paranoia. On screen, we see profiles of various antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs, and their possible side effects, accompanied by stock footage.
The director also recounts the traumatic experience that he feels led to his condition: the humiliating hazing rituals and violent punishments he endured during his conscription. “I drew a red card and was drafted into the military service”, he says, before describing the physical and mental harm he was subjected to.
The director also recounts the traumatic experience that he feels led to his condition: the humiliating hazing rituals and violent punishments he endured during his conscription. “I drew a red card and was drafted into the military service”, he says, before describing the physical and mental harm he was subjected to.
In Thailand, all twenty-one-year-old men must take part in a draft lottery. Like the young soldier interviewed in Nontawat Numbenchapol’s documentary Boundary (ฟ้าต่ำแผ่นดินสูง), Vichart picked a red ticket, which means two years of compulsory military service.
There have been occasional news reports of cadets being injured — and worse — during military training sessions, though there is less coverage of the potential psychological toll that Vichart describes. At the end of his powerful and ultimately optimistic film, he argues that conscription should be replaced by voluntary service.
There have been occasional news reports of cadets being injured — and worse — during military training sessions, though there is less coverage of the potential psychological toll that Vichart describes. At the end of his powerful and ultimately optimistic film, he argues that conscription should be replaced by voluntary service.
