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The Siam Renaissance (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region All

Florence Vanida F. (Actor) | Surapong Pinijkhar (Director)
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The Siam Renaissance (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)

YesAsia Editorial Description

The historical fantasy romance novel Tawipop by Thai writer Thommayanti has seen numerous adaptations on the stage, television, and the silver screen, and in 2004 Surapong Pinijkhar directed a new film version called The Siam Renaissance with high production values. Starring the beautiful Florence Vanida F., the story of a woman's time travels takes place in two time periods: present-day Bangkok and the Thai capital in the 1850s. Through a mirror in her bedroom, Maneejan is transported back and forth in time, as she finds herself a researcher working for the Thai Consulate in Paris in one, and the Siam princess in another. Alternating between the past and the present, she must use every means possible to save her country from foreign invasion...
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Technical Information

Product Title: The Siam Renaissance (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) 暹羅復興錄 (DVD) (香港版) 暹罗复兴录 (DVD) (香港版) The Siam Renaissance (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) The Siam Renaissance (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Artist Name(s): Florence Vanida F. (Actor) 弗洛倫絲 (Actor) 弗洛伦丝 (Actor) Florence Vanida F. (Actor) Florence Vanida F. (Actor)
Director: Surapong Pinijkhar Surapong Pinijkhar Surapong Pinijkhar Surapong Pinijkhar Surapong Pinijkhar
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Release Date: 2009-02-27
Language: Cantonese, Thai
Subtitles: English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese
Country of Origin: Thailand
Picture Format: NTSC What is it?
Aspect Ratio: 1.78 : 1
Widescreen Anamorphic: Yes
Sound Information: Dolby Digital
Disc Format(s): DVD
Region Code: All Region What is it?
Duration: 110 (mins)
Publisher: Kam & Ronson Enterprises Co Ltd
Package Weight: 120 (g)
Shipment Unit: 1 What is it?
YesAsia Catalog No.: 1014432931

Product Information

Maneejan is a Paris-based archive specialist. A mysterious French work is brought to her for interpretation at the Thai consulate in Paris. She realizes the document is Voyageur, written by French naturalist Francois Xavier about Siam in the mid 19th century. Maneejan is moved by the record's allusion to Siam's Shadowy past. When she returns to Thailand, she finds herself in a half-dream state, witnessing and experienching her home country as it was more than a century ago, Siam as it struggled to defy ourside influences to become a new civilization. Maneejan learns much about her country's history, becomes a fighter alongside her cultural ancestors, and finds valuable lessons in life and love along the way.
Additional Information may be provided by the manufacturer, supplier, or a third party, and may be in its original language

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Customer Review of "The Siam Renaissance (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)"

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Average Customer Rating for this Edition: Customer Review Rated Bad 8 - 8 out of 10 (1)

Kevin Kennedy
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June 17, 2009
Beautiful time-traveling romance Customer Review Rated Bad 8 - 8 out of 10
In "The Siam Renaissance", Maneejan (Florence Vanida Faivre) works as an archivist for the Thai embassy in Paris. She works in some capacity on the review of an unusual historical document, a document written in the mid-1800s by French naturalist Francois Xavier while he was conducting research in Siam. The document contains mysterious references to a woman in Bangkok who appeared to be able to foretell the future; it also bore a drawing of what appears to be the Eiffel Tower -- but the drawing appears to have been made years before the Eiffel Tower was conceived! Reviewing the document has a strange effect upon Maneejan; first she begins to see what appear to be historical figures from Siam's past, then, upon returning to Thailand, Maneejan becomes unstuck in time. She simply disappears into the past for days at a time.

When she disappears into the past, she turns up in 1850s Bangkok -- where it is clear that she is the woman foretelling the future who is described in Xavier's account. She quickly comes to the attention of two very handsome (and buff) young officials of the palace. One of them views her as crazy or perhaps some sort of a witch, but as he comes to know her better a romance develops between the buff young official and the lovely Maneejan. Maneejan sees Siam's territory being carved up by French and British colonizers, who are jousting for hegemony in the region. Will she intervene and disturb the course of Thailand's history?

The underlying theme of "The Siam Renaissance" is expressed when Maneejan tells the 1850s officials: "We [Thais in the future] are more accepting of Westerners than we are of ourselves." The film's central message is that modern Thailand has become unmoored from its history and traditions and needs to become reconnected to them.

The movie is visually spectacular; its use of poetic imagery works wonderfully well. It provides an engaging look into Thailand's past. Less successful are the sometimes soap-operatic present day scenes. Florence Vanida Faivre, who is half-French, half-Thai, and 100% gorgeous, creates a riveting screen presence; I literally could not take my eyes off of her. The biggest drawback of this DVD release is the English subtitles. They are atrocious. Nonetheless, I was never bored watching this movie. Both the movie in general and Miss Vanida Faivre in particular are so stunningly beautiful that I was captivated throughout.
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