Supong Jitmuang’s documentary Mob 2020–2021 will be shown at Kinjai Contemporary in Bangkok today, as part of the Once Upon a Time 63 (กาลครั้งหนึ่งของฉันในปี 63) exhibition. (The film received its first public screening at the same venue in 2022.)
Mob 2020–2021 covers the first twelve months of the recent anti-government protest movement. Supong and his camera were at Thammasat University on 19th September 2020, for the overnight rally that later occupied Sanam Luang. On 14th October 2020, he filmed the march to Government House, after which a state of emergency was declared. On 17th November 2020, he was on the front line when protesters used inflatable ducks to protect themselves from water cannon fired by riot police. (Sorayos Prapapan’s short film Yellow Duck Against Dictatorship documents the same event.)
Mob 2020–2021 covers the first twelve months of the recent anti-government protest movement. Supong and his camera were at Thammasat University on 19th September 2020, for the overnight rally that later occupied Sanam Luang. On 14th October 2020, he filmed the march to Government House, after which a state of emergency was declared. On 17th November 2020, he was on the front line when protesters used inflatable ducks to protect themselves from water cannon fired by riot police. (Sorayos Prapapan’s short film Yellow Duck Against Dictatorship documents the same event.)
The protests were at their most intense in the summer of 2021, and Mob 2020–2021 shows the rally at Democracy Monument on 18th July 2021 marking the first anniversary of the campaign. That August, there were almost daily confrontations between riot police and protesters, but rather than filming each event, Supong summarises them in a general written caption noting the “multiple continuous clashes that lasted many weeks”.
Mob 2020–2021 was the first feature-length documentary covering the student protest movement. It’s an invaluable record of a profound social and political change in Thailand. Supong’s film also includes a written timeline of the protests, and its matter-of-fact neutrality is maintained throughout, except for a single reference to the “parasitic” government.
The film was first shown online, in the Short Film Marathon (หนังสั้นมาราธอน), as part of the 25th Thai Short Film and Video Festival (เทศกาลภาพยนตร์สั้น ครั้งที่ 25). It has also been screened at the Hom Theatre in Uttaradit, at the 2nd Anniversary of We Volunteer (งานครบรอบ 2 ปีกลุ่ม We Volunteer) exhibition, and at the third Moving Images Screening Night (คืนฉายภาพเคลื่อนไหว).
Mob 2020–2021 was the first feature-length documentary covering the student protest movement. It’s an invaluable record of a profound social and political change in Thailand. Supong’s film also includes a written timeline of the protests, and its matter-of-fact neutrality is maintained throughout, except for a single reference to the “parasitic” government.
The film was first shown online, in the Short Film Marathon (หนังสั้นมาราธอน), as part of the 25th Thai Short Film and Video Festival (เทศกาลภาพยนตร์สั้น ครั้งที่ 25). It has also been screened at the Hom Theatre in Uttaradit, at the 2nd Anniversary of We Volunteer (งานครบรอบ 2 ปีกลุ่ม We Volunteer) exhibition, and at the third Moving Images Screening Night (คืนฉายภาพเคลื่อนไหว).
Once Upon a Time 63, organised by the Museum of Popular History, runs from today until 25th October. Mob 2020–2021 will be screened continuously throughout the exhibition. Veerapong Soontornchattrawat’s short documentary Then and Now, profiling three people charged with lèse-majesté, will be shown as part of the exhibition on 18th October.
The exhibition features the personal belongings of protesters who joined the student demonstrations in 2020. There are also items from the Museum of Popular History’s collection, including rubber bullets, tear gas canisters, and the t-shirt worn by Payu Boonsophon when he was hit in the eye by a rubber bullet in 2022. Some of these exhibits were also on display at ความรุนแรง (ต้อง) ไม่ลอยนวล — ‘violence (must not be) unpunished’ — earlier this year.
The exhibition features the personal belongings of protesters who joined the student demonstrations in 2020. There are also items from the Museum of Popular History’s collection, including rubber bullets, tear gas canisters, and the t-shirt worn by Payu Boonsophon when he was hit in the eye by a rubber bullet in 2022. Some of these exhibits were also on display at ความรุนแรง (ต้อง) ไม่ลอยนวล — ‘violence (must not be) unpunished’ — earlier this year.
A similar exhibition, also showcasing objects related to the student protest movement, is currently being held at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. Whereas Once Upon a Time 63 features the objects themselves, the BACC exhibition The Persistence consists of photographs of protest props by Napin Mandhachitara and Pichak Tanunchaibutra.
Coincidentally, both exhibition posters feature yellow rubber ducks, which became symbols of the protest movement. The Persistence opened on 8th October, and runs until 2nd November.
Coincidentally, both exhibition posters feature yellow rubber ducks, which became symbols of the protest movement. The Persistence opened on 8th October, and runs until 2nd November.
