CHILDREN OF THE GOLDEN HORSE
Italy/Germany/Thailand 2007 • Director: Claudia Pelz • 29 minutes • German/Thai with English Subtitles
Festivals: MEFEST Serbia, EPONA France, Doc 5 Scotland, 2007
Ten-year old Jattae is a so-called “Hilltriber”, one of over 100,000 members of ethnic minorities who are currently settled in the mountains of North Thailand. Like most of these people, Jattae’s family is living close to the subsistence level. According to Thai law, the mountain people are no longer allowed to live in their traditional way as nomadic farmers using slash and burn techniques. But there are no alternatives!
Their own cultures and languages make it hard to integrate the “Hilltribes” into Thai society. Without Thai citizenship, Jattae has no right to school education or health care. Many of the inhabitants of his village already escaped from poverty through drug dealing and prostitution. That’s not the way Jattae wants to go! He dreams of becoming a famous Thai boxer and of getting his own fast black horse!
This wish may seem a long way from reality. But Jattae’s dream is close to becoming true, when he is given the chance to live together with 17 other children and more than 120 horses in a Buddhist Temple nearby. His initial enthusiasm does not last for long however, when he finds out that his idol Phra Khru Ba, the monk who runs the temple, no longer has much time to be a father figure and teacher for the children as he was in the past. His controversial appearance and his unusual relief campaign for the hilltribers have made the charismatic temple leader famous. Jattae finds the monk in a difficult situation, torn between popularity and the desire for reflection.
Although the first weeks in the temple do not meet Jattae’s expectations, his dream of the horse and his faith in Kruh Ba Nua Chai still keep his hope for a better future alive.
Joining Jattae during a very important month in his life, this film is a unique document of faith, conflicts, and the dreams of the unknown poor and famous holy people.
Screenings
| Wellington | Saturday 10 May, 6.00pm | Tuesday 13 May, 8.15pm |
| Auckland | Saturday 17 May, 6.00pm | Tuesday 20 May, 8.15pm |
| Christchurch | Saturday 24 May, 6.00pm | Tuesday 27 May, 8.15pm |
| Dunedin | Saturday 31 May, 6.00pm | Tuesday 3 June, 8.15pm |
Related
WARS AND WAVESMOTHER AND WALL
FORBIDDEN RIGHTS
2008 Dates
Wellington 8 - 16 May
Paramount Theatre
Auckland 15 - 23 May
Rialto Newmarket
Christchurch 22 - 30 May
Regent on Worcester
Dunedin 29 May - 6 June
Rialto Dunedin