Asian American / Asian Research Institute
The City University of New York
Almost all representations of Thailand refer to it as Buddhist. The majority of its citizens identify themselves as practitioners of Theravada Buddhism, although a history of sectarian disputes within this strand of Buddhism has also provided an idiom for regional political movements. Today, the status of religion is changing. Debates about the constitutional formalization of … Read more
Last Life in the Universe (Thailand, 2003) Shy Kenji is a Japanese librarian in Bangkok who lives within a neatly organized world and fantasizes about committing suicide, but gets interrupted every time he attempts to end his life. While at work, he becomes obsessed with a beautiful girl he spots through the bookshelves. Later, while … Read more
Beautiful Boxer (Thailand, 2005) Ekachi Uekrongtham’s biographical drama is about Nong Toom (played by Asanee Suwan), a championship kick-boxer in Thailand. But Nong Toom has a secret: he is saving his prize money for his hoped-for sex change operation. His endurance and his amazing prowess are testimony to his remarkable courage. Workshop Instructor: Daryl Chin … Read more