M.L. Pichaya Svasti
Writer -Outlook
• Published: 8/09/2010 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: Outlook
Even before ascending the throne, King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) was already a pioneer in moviemaking in Siam. During his reign, he shot or directed many documentary movies of royal ceremonies and of his trips in the country and abroad. However, only about 100 of the late king's more than 500 film rolls have survived the humidity and improper storage they were subjected to. Some of them have been preserved, copied onto new film and transferred to DVD format by the Thai Film Archive with support from King Prajadhipok's Institute.
Now, the first 16 preserved documentaries of King Rama VII are ready for public viewing. They feature the visits of the late King Rama VII and Queen Rambhai Barni to the north of Thailand, to the beaches of Sam Roi Yot, Sattahip and Pattani, as well as overseas trips to Indochina, Java and the US. Events on film include the Tonsure Ceremony, Guards of Honour, the Ploughing Ceremony and the Kathin Ceremony. A boat ride by the king is also among the films being presented.
From now until September 30, the exhibition ''Siamese Footprints on King Prajadhipok's Movies'' _ recollections about Siam in the last years of the Absolute Monarchy _ is on view at the King Prajadhipok Museum. At the opening on August 25, documentaries on the king's Coronation, the celebrations on the 12th Anniversary of the Royal Wedding, and Prince Chirasak's Tonsure Ceremony (top knot-cutting rite of passage to adulthood) were shown.
According to Prince Dhani Nivat's English-language account, King Prajadhipok's Coronation Ceremony on February 25, 1926, represented a return to old customs _ Hindu with Buddhist modifications _ together with some additions. The ceremony was divided into five important parts _ Preliminary Rites, the Coronation, Protection of Buddhism, Assumption of Royal Residence (all held in the Grand Palace) and the Royal Processions by land and water.
''This documentary film is the country's first on coronation ceremonies. There are still photos of the Second Coronation of King Rama V in 1873. There are none of those of earlier periods because ancient cameras were incapable of shooting incidents live,'' said cultural expert Assoc Prof Dhongthong Chantarangsu.
The documentary film on the August 26, 1930 celebrations on the 12th Anniversary of King Rama VII and Queen Rambhai Barni's royal wedding recounts the less formal moments of royal life. It starts with a round of golf in the morning and a Buddhist ceremony at Ruan Ton Villa and ends with a fancy party at Sala Rerng Villa. The audience could not help smiling when they saw several royals donning fancy costumes and hilariously posing as certain characters or icons. King Rama VII himself is dressed as US President Abraham Lincoln, his queen as the Sun, his father-in-law, Prince Svasti, as Santa Claus, Prince Kamphaengphet as a drunkard, and Prince Anuwat as a southern Nora dancer.
Meanwhile, the documentary movie on Prince
jlChirasak's Tonsure Ceremony in 1928 is a valuable record of royal ceremonies of the past which no longer exist. The Buddhist and Hindu ceremony in the Grand Palace lasted five days for Prince Chirasak, who was King Rama VII's cousin-turned-adopted son. It was one of the last tonsure ceremonies performed in Siam.
In ancient times, Siamese children wore their hair in topknots to be cut as they approached puberty at the ages of 11 to 13 for boys and at about 11 for girls. Tonsure ceremonies for royals date from the early Bangkok period.
In the later Bangkok period, tonsure ceremonies were held at about the same time as the Brahmin New Year Festival of Triyamapavaya-Tripavaya when the gods Shiva and Vishnu were believed to consecutively visit the Earth. This ceremony included a rite on the Giant Swing, which was discontinued in the Seventh Reign.
Apart from the documentaries on the royal ceremonies, excerpts from documentary films on King Rama VII and his queen's visits to the northern provinces, Sam Roi Yot National Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan province both in 1926 and Pattani in 1929, as well as their visits to Singapore (then under British rule) and Java and Bali (then under Dutch control) in 1929 are being shown.
In Java and Bali, the king and queen called on the former indigenous rulers and observed developments in farming and industry. They also visited historical and religious monuments, such as Prambanan and Borobudur, and enjoyed the cultural life of the local people.
The late king's documentary movie on the royal visit to Java is made up of 17 black-and-white 16mm film rolls lasting about 15 minutes each. Despite no sound on the film, this documentary included descriptions of where the late king and queen visited. Much attention was paid to filming religious monuments, natural sites such as volcanoes and hot springs as well as local dances.
Although this documentary film was not entirely shot by the king, some of the king's letters discuss how he used a movie camera and occasionally filmed the moments his queen and two little royals were watching animals and visiting places like hot springs. A photo showing the King carrying a movie camera at a hot spring is proof. Therefore, the King was believed to have himself filmed parts of this documentary which should reflect his personal interests, nature and sense of humour.
Therefore, this movie is of high educational value, especially when being studied along with the official report of the journey and King Rama VII's own letters to his nieces. One of the king's nieces, who was a daughter of Prince Nakhon Sawan, wrote: "Whenever His Majesty saw good things or new useful ideas, he would always take them into concern for the benefits of his kingdom."
Academic Chatchapol Chaiyaporn, who spoke about the royal ceremonies in the Seventh Reign at the opening of the exhibit, said all the movies by King Rama VII are proof of the late king's keen interest in photography and film-making.
Assoc Prof Dhongthong, who has also lectured on this topic, added that King Rama VII shot or directed many movies. One of these films _ Waen Wises (A Magic Ring) _ was for pure entertainment purposes. The late king's well-known documentary films include those on the opening of the Memorial Bridge and his royal visits to the country. He also shot a film on HRH Princess Bejraratana Rajasuda (King Rama VI's only child) in her childhood.
"These movies not only are the accounts of incidents but also contain meanings between the lines," the cultural expert said.
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Selected movies by King Rama VII are being shown twice a day as part of the exhibition 'Siamese Footprints on King Prajadhipok's Movies' at the King Prajadhipok Museum, near Phan Fa Bridge, until September 30. The museum is open from 9am to 4pm, except on Mondays.
For more information, visit www.kingprajadhipokmuseum.org or call 02-280-3413/4 ext 111.
