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Published on April 5, 2008

 The film's acclaimed director, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, said that this version went "through the system" and he suggests that his audience be sceptical when watching it.

To put it simply, after his film was put through the system, the result is not quite as enjoyable - the Board of Censors ordered six scenes to be removed. Apichatpong protested a year ago when the board ordered him to cut four scenes from the film. He fought and decidedly recently to screen this version instead with a total of six scenes censored.

Unfortunately, this seemed to be the only way Thai people would get to see this film by a Thai director. It was a choice between not screening it at all and screening a version that authorities found suitable.

The film has travelled around the world and won praise and recognition internationally since its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September, 2006.

The "through-the-system" version features silent scratched black screens during the troublesome six scenes. Most film-makers would have had the scenes - and the black screens - edited out, but Apichatpong preferred to do it his way.

Just walk into the Siam Paragon theatre on Thursday and see how you feel watching this version of "Sang Sattawat". Certainly, it is not the same version that made it into the top five contenders for BBC's World Cinema Award, but it is the one that someone up there believes suitable for Thai audiences.

To the cultural authorities, the removal of the six scenes means they have done their job and that the morality of Thai filmgoers is still intact.

To Apichatpong, screening this version was his best option to have the film seen by Thai audiences, even though he believes only a small group of people would want to see it. "This is the version they can see through the system," Apichatpong said.

The director has learnt a great deal and he says dealing with authorities has provided him with more of an education on film-making.

This time round he hopes the audience when seeing the silent, scratched and black frames - the longest censored scene running for seven minutes - will learn a great deal.

He'd love his small group of fans to receive the message during these scenes, and hopes that they can decide for themselves whether this is the proper way for them to see films in Thailand.

Perhaps he implicitly wants Thai filmgoers to educate themselves "through the system" too. Although Apichatpong's film will not be the last to be axed under the new Film Act, he believes the "through-the-system" version should stimulate audiences to decide for themselves whether they really deserve censored films.

It is a pity that the task of fighting for freedoms lies solely with film-makers, while film lovers just sit back and enjoy the show once the battle is finished.

As a film-maker, Apichatpong has done his part by citing his right to freedom of expression. Obviously we have exhausted him by putting him on the front lines for so long, while film buffs have hardly done anything except wait patiently to enjoy the show.

Should the director wish for more from his Thai fans? Not really, he has fought long enough to learn that an appreciation of rights and freedoms should come from within.

And he probably knows that the universality of rights and freedoms is not part of our education. In fact most Thai people are taught to stay away from problems. Critical thinking is a secret of success in the West, but can lead you to failure in Thailand. On the contrary, staying submissive means a better chance for success. But those who believe that we deserve better than this can simply lend their morale support by enjoying the film as it is - "through the system".

Don't worry about the content of the censored scenes, as ticket holders will receive a souvenir postcard of them. Moreover, the proceeds will go to the Free Thai Cinema Movement under the Thai Film Foundation.

As you walk into the theatre, just remind yourself that you deserve this version of the film because someone up there on the board believes they have better judgement than you do. They think for you and decide what you should and should not see in the theatre. They are your moral authority.

The absence of picture and sound may be the best part of "Sang Sattawat" and when you really watch the silent black screen, ask yourself: "Do I deserve this version?"

  Whatever your answer, the cultural authorities believe you do.

Veena Thoopkrajae