The Terrorists (2011 Film)

The Terrorists is a 2011 experimental film directed by Thunska Pansittivorakul, who co-wrote the screenplay with Panu Trivej. A co-production between Thailand and Germany, the film serves as a personal reflection on the political climate in Thailand following the 2010 pro-democracy Red Shirt uprising in Bangkok.

Production and Themes

Structured in 17 episodes, the film functions as a diary-like assessment of a society grappling with trauma and state repression. Thunska incorporates diverse elements, including personal family history, erotic imagery, and reflections on political passivity, to address the atmosphere of censorship and collective forgetting that followed the 2010 events. The narrative draws upon the director's own experiences, including his childhood displacement from Bangkok during the 1970s.

Release and Festivals

The film held its world premiere in February 2011 at the 61st Berlin International Film Festival, where it was screened in the Forum section. It subsequently appeared at several international film festivals, including the Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema and the New Horizons International Film Festival. Its Asian premiere took place at the 5th Cinema Digital Seoul Film Festival in August 2011. The film has a runtime of 105 minutes.