A series of short films by Teeraphan Ngowjeenanan, all titled A Teeraphanny Joint (in homage to Spike Lee), were shown online yesterday as part of this year’s Short Film Marathon (หนังสั้นมาราธอน). Teeraphan’s films, divided into twenty episodes, all document the recent student protest movement, and all except the final episode were filmed between August and November 2020, during the first wave of public protests.
The director’s focus is on the protesters themselves, rather than the riot police who attempted to suppress them. He emphasises the solidarity shown by the demonstrators, and the jubilant atmosphere at some of the rallies. He also highlights incidental details — or what he described on Instagram as “micro situations” — that might otherwise be overlooked.
These are the twenty episodes:
The director’s focus is on the protesters themselves, rather than the riot police who attempted to suppress them. He emphasises the solidarity shown by the demonstrators, and the jubilant atmosphere at some of the rallies. He also highlights incidental details — or what he described on Instagram as “micro situations” — that might otherwise be overlooked.
These are the twenty episodes:
Constitution-Monarchy
Episode 1 (กษัตริย์-รัฐธรรมนูญ) — a protest at Democracy Monument on 16th August 2020. A man who is not a member of the protest movement nevertheless voices his support, in a pragmatic manner, for the aims of the protesters.
I Know I’m No Good
Episode 2 (หนูรู้หนูมันเลว) — a protest by the Bad Student group outside the Ministry of Education on 5th September 2020.
Protester Anthem
Episode 3 (เพลงชาติผู้ประท้วง) — Act สิ Art, an art fair and concert held at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre on 12th September 2020, organised by the Free Arts collective. The crowd sing Do You Hear the People Sing? at 6pm as an alternative to the national anthem. (Supong Jitmuang’s documentary Mob 2020–2021 also features Do You Hear the People Sing? as a protest anthem.)
Life Firing Zone
Episode 4 (พื้นที่การใช้กระสุนจริง) — 99 Dead, a performance on 19th September 2020 outside the Supreme Court, marking the tenth anniversary of the April and May 2010 crackdown. (The performance was directed by Teerawat Mulvilai of B-Floor Theatre, and organised by Red Comrades and Free Arts.)
Kult Was Here
Episode 5 (คัลท์เคยอยู่นี่) — a ‘กูkult’ sticker covering a portrait of the King, on 19th September 2020. (A man was later charged with lèse-majesté for affixing the sticker to the portrait.)
There was a significant protest at Thammasat University on the same day, which then migrated to nearby Sanam Luang overnight. Mob 2020–2021 includes footage of this event, though Teeraphan focuses only on the sticker.
There was a significant protest at Thammasat University on the same day, which then migrated to nearby Sanam Luang overnight. Mob 2020–2021 includes footage of this event, though Teeraphan focuses only on the sticker.
Love Song
Episode 6 (ร้องเพลงรัก) — Chaiamorn Kaewwiboonpan performing his hit single 12345 I Love You at a protest near the parliament building on 24th September 2020. The song was popular among the protest movement, and demonstrators shouted “ai hia Tu” instead of the original lyrics — “I love you” — during the chorus. (Ai hia is a strong insult, and Tu is Prayut Chan-o-cha’s nickname.)
Have a Good Night
Episode 7 (ขอให้มีค่ำคืนที่ดี) — Arnon Nampa leading a crowd in chanting “ai hia” as MPs pass by in a convoy of vehicles. The politicians were leaving parliament on 24th September 2020 after voting to delay plans to amend the constitution.
Free Our Friends
Episode 8 (ปล่อยเพื่อนเรา) — a protest outside the police headquarters on 13th October 2020, demanding the release of protesters and others charged with lèse-majesté.
Marching Street Art
Episode 9 (ศิลปะบนถนน) — graffiti on the road at a protest near Nang Loeng on 14th October 2020. (On the same day, thousands of protesters marched from Democracy Monument to Government House, prompting the government to declare a state of emergency. Again, the events are included in Mob 2020–2021, though not in A Teeraphanny Joint.)
Come Together
Episode 10 (มาชุมนุมกันโดยได้นัดหมาย) — a large-scale protest at Ratchaprasong on 15th October 2020, held in defiance of the state of emergency.
Water Crisis
Episode 11 (วิกฤตการณ์น้ำ) — on 16th October 2020, riot police were deployed against the demonstrators for the first time, using water cannon laced with tear gas to dispurse a protest at Siam Square. Footage of the confrontation is included in Chatchawan Thongchan’s From Forest to City (อรัญนคร), Jarut Wisawong’s Twas Partly Love, and Partly Fear, Chulayarnnon Siriphol’s I a Pixel, We the People (ข้าพเจ้าคือพิกเซล, พวกเราคือประชาชน), and Thunska Pansittivorakul’s Danse Macabre (มรณสติ).
Teeraphan doesn’t show the water cannon itself. Instead, he films volunteers as they carry bottled water to the protesters, to wash the tear gas from their eyes.
Teeraphan doesn’t show the water cannon itself. Instead, he films volunteers as they carry bottled water to the protesters, to wash the tear gas from their eyes.
Communication Skill
Episode 12 (ทักษะการสื่อสาร) — a protest on 18th October 2020 at Victory Monument.
We Dance, We Sing
Episode 13 (เราเต้น เราร้อง) — a musician performing at a protest on 19th October 2020.
Cancellation Request
Episode 14 (คำขอยกเลิก) — a march from Victory Monument to Government House on 21st October 2020, calling for Prayut’s resignation as PM.
Love Song 2
Episode 15 (ร้องเพลงรัก 2) — another clip of Chaiamorn performing 12345 I Love You, this time outside Klongprem Central Prison on 23rd October 2020.
Cheer Up
Episode 16 (เชียร์ขึ้นไป) — a protest outside the German embassy on 26th October 2020.
Speech of Freedom
Episode 17 (การพูดในเสรีภาพ) — a rally outside Klongprem Central Prison on 3rd November 2020, to celebrate Arnon’s release on bail. He was freed at one minute after midnight, and gave a speech to the waiting crowd.
Wrap Up
Episode 18 (ห่อหุ้ม) — a protest on 14th November 2020, during which white sheets were draped over Democracy Monument.
Support-Resistant
Episode 19 (แนวรับ-แนวต้าน) — a protest outside parliament on 17th November 2020, with demonstrators washing their eyes with water after riot police used tear gas to disperse them. (Teeraphan was far from the front line, though Mob 2020–2021 and Sorayos Prapapan’s Yellow Duck Against Dictatorship include footage of the incident.)
The Country Belongs to the People
Episode 20 (ประเทศนี้เป็นของราษฎร) — a commemoration on 24th June 2021 marking the eighty-ninth anniversary of the 1932 democratic revolution.
