Dark night of the soul

Description

Suwisal is a successful, middle-aged company director, but he has a melancholic personality and is very forgetful. His beautiful young fiance finds herself having to remind him of daily appointments, special occasions and routine things. Suwisal is a reluctant husband-to-be. He has casual relationships with other women and appears to be troubled by something deep in his psyche- something he tries to forget in order to maintain emotional stability. This stability is suddenly upset when he is called to serve on a jury at a murder trial. The defendant is a young sex worker accused of murdering a client. Suwisal recognizes her as Piyum, the young servant from his aunt's house, whom he knew twenty-five years ago. He had a sexual encounter with her and she became pregnant. But refused to see her again and help her through her difficulties. Suwisal is not sure if Piyum recognizes him. She says nothing. He is advised to remain in the jury and he votes with the majority to find her guilty as charged. She is sentenced to ten years imprisonment. But we see that it is Suwisal who has been sentenced to a lifetime of guilt, remorse and despair. He now feels he should share some responsibility for the life Piyum was forced to lead. He tries to lodge an appeal on her behalf but he is advised of consequences if his past becomes public knowledge. Suwisal persists, he visits Piyum in prison and offers her help. Festivals/Awards: Best New Asian Director, Pusan International Film Festival 1996; Amiens International Film Festival 1999; Fribourg Film Festival 1999; Pusan International Film Festival 1996; Hawaii International Film Festival 1996; Singapore International Film Festival 1996; Nantes Festival Of Three Continents 1996.

Runtime

75 min

Creator

Vitānagē, Prasanna. drt

Series

Subjects

Geography

Genre

Date of Publication

1996

Database

Alexander Street

Direct Link