Lao movie? Really?

New Lao movie to release in July
Khonesavanh Latsaphao

The Lao National Film Archive and Video Centre held a press conference yesterday in Vientiane to say it will screen a new Lao movie next month after its filming was completed.

The film has been made to welcome the Second Party Congress of the Ministry of Information and Culture and the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting scheduled for July 24-29.

“This movie will not be free to the general public because movie producers are raising funds for future productions,” said the archive's Director, Mr Bounchao Phichit.

The movie titled Leum Tua will play for three days at 8:00 pm , July 16-18, at the National Culture Hall; tickets are priced at 10,000 kip for adults and 5,000 kip for children.

“The movie is about a man named Kienphet, who participated in the Lao national fight for liberation, but has forgotten everything that he did,” said Bounchao.

In the movie, the Lao government appoints Mr Kienphet, after the Lao liberation, to an important directorial position at the Lao Construction Enterprise in Vientiane . But he doesn't do any work, instead spending his time drinking beer and wooing the girls of Vientiane .

“We spent 18 days producing this movie which we started filming at the end of 2003. The movie was delayed as many actors in the film are Ministry of Information and Culture officials and were very busy,” said Mr Bounchao.

The movie's production costs totalled 35 million kip; all the actors in the movie are veterans.
The producers admit that Lao people would have preferred to see new actors in the movie, but because of budget limitations, they were not able to afford them.

“I want Lao people to watch this movie, so that we can earn money to produce more movies,” said Mr Bounchao.

Only six Lao movies have so far been produced, although there is a demand for them. Lack of funds have proved the deterrent factor.

Source: http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/ (01-July-2005)