Lucky Loser
Did any of you get a chance to see Lucky Loser or Mak Tae Loke Talueng? I saw it last year and it was not bad at all. For those that didn’t know what the fuss was all about, then here is a quick review from Wikipedia:
Lucky Loser or Mak Tae Loke Talueng) is a 2006 Thai sports-comedy about a small, fictional Southeast Asian country’s bid to play in the World Cup. Initially, the country depicted in the film was Laos, but because of concerns by diplomatic officials that the depiction of Lao players would be seen as offensive to Lao people, the film’s release in May 2006 was cancelled. The film’s production company, GMM Tai Hub, re-edited the film and reshot some scenes to remove any references to Laos. The name of the fictional country is Arvee.
Here is the original poster of the movie.
Here is the revised poster of the movie.
Check out the movie for yourself and see if you can’t tell if the movie was not about Laos. Let’s not forget the reference of sticky rice and padek. Hmm…who would eat such things?
Thanks for posting this movie DJ. I meant to get around to watch the movie. Never did. Good thing they edit the movie. No need to take the route if it’s going to offend people. Thanks goes to the Thais as well for be considerate. There is one more thing I’d to ask them to do. I would appreciated it if they can do me this small favor, don’t have to, but if they thought of this song, they would have made this movie that way in the beginning. Like I said, they don’t have to if they don’t want to. I like Thai music, I thought it was great. I still do. It’s just this one particular song. I thought I’d like to share. It goes like this…"jer kon Mon kon kwa kon…nurk wa pen kwai…" Translation is, ran into a Mon person, less than a hum, I thought he is a buffalo.
Sorry, wrote in a hurry. Just want to correct the part that I say…if they thought of this song, they would not have made the movie to begin with. Thats what I meant to say. The credit was given a E for effort. Still, it’s like you got knocked out or slapped by someone. Then the person ask, did it hurt? Then say, sorry.
Finally get to see the movie, as we had discussed before in the old Lao Planet forum that it appeared that the older generation of Laotians that were so upset by the movie mainly because of the hatred or anger that they have had toward the Thais. I think I would like it more if they had left it as the original version, I guess I don’t like being lied to, lets face it, it’s just a fictional movie and it is still the same story but changing the name from Laos to Arvee does not change the story or intention of the producer, but I guess some of us like being told the same story in a different way.
I thought the movie was funny, and should not have been rereleased (censored/edited). Hopefully at some stage a "Directors Version" can be released, until then, I´ll keep cheering for the Arveenians…
People were angry enough. Will always be angry about something. For those that are angry about the older version, I am with you. For those good Thai people I met before, I love and have deep respect for you. For the others who look to get their ass kick, will get theirs by a Laotian or somebody. It’s only natural. The movie’s edit version showed effort, effort to bring change. The future relation between two country relies heavily on this little effort here and there.
I think it’s all about attention, there is so much censorship going on that we even have the need to censor other country’s movie, to me the unedited story line of Laos being the main team should be good for our country, and might have brought some tourism into Laos that is forgo. Obviously it’s only a comedy movie, and as for the producer edited the movie was only to salvage what he can get back, as we all know, it was a huge lost, I’m not so sure about ‘lucky loser’ after all, might be unlucky for any producer that wants to produce a movie relating to Laos. If having difference of opinion is asking to get one’s Ass kick, then I think we must be voicing our opinion on a communism ideology here. What happen to freedom of speech? Any comment from Big Boss?
I guess I don’t have a Big Boss, I forgot that I’m a Nye. I believe that this blog was set up as a discussion forum for Laotians and our non-Laotian friends to discuss topics that challenge the mind. It is a medium of communication for many of us, and making a personal threat because others might have a different opinion from us is uncalled for, I think for the last 3 months, I must have heard it all from ‘shoot…..then ended with Kick Ass’ Of course this does not intimidate me, it’s time to move on.
I read my last comment over and over again, I still think I did not threaten or try to intimidate anyone. In fact, I was just showing my concern for the people from both sides of the line. Both sides worked hard to build a relationship they have today. My saying, "for those that look to get their honey bun kick, will get theirs by a Laotian or someone," is an express of concern for the new generations. I don’t want to see anyone get hurt, physically or mentally. I think some, not all, would agree that I make sense here. Why threat anyone? That would be ridiculous. To me, if the Thai movie makers wanted to they could have just release the first version. No one can stop them. They should just exercise their freedom. Never mind the cost.
Lets just play the what if game for a second here? What if the movie was released unedited or uncensored? I think those Thai movie makers played the what if game twice. One when they were thinking of a funny movie to make and again before they decided to edit another version for release. I can’t say they enjoyed it. Why would they? Being educated people that they are, business oriented mind and all, their decision to edit the film was based on the suggestion or perhaps opinion from their people and government. Since it was just a what if game and they were willing to play, the outcome, to them, was priceless. I think.
Now, I personally think that the old version would have been funnier for the Thai people. Noi Pogham just don’t cut it with the Thai dialect.
I wonder, what if they release the movie the way it was? If they asked me first, I would have told them to leave the Lao name out and use the Thai ethnics from other region of Thailand instead. A lot of them can be good for laughter. There are enough ethnicity to choose from. If they did ask me first, they would have avoid the unnecessary lost of time and money. The movie would have be smash block buster hit. I don’t know in the world they were thinking.
We talked of freedom of speech, I am exercising my freedom of speech right now. Community? Sorry, I think I rather use this word instead of the other one. I think one have to know what a community is before one can join one. One would have to go to a nice community school first before one would be allow to join. The what if is, if one was growing up in community country, one would probably be sent to the finest community school ever and one would probably be made a good community man or woman.
World, my voice is one voice. It doesn’t matter much.
Thanks laovoice.com for allowing my comment and voice be heard. Delete it if it is not suitable for your site. What if you do?
I would love to see the original version. I have no problem. But I am not Lao, I am Lao-American. Here is a cliche, Pride is a double-edged sword. Lao should get over it.
If the movie was a huge hit more people will know of Laos. It would have been free advertisement…."VisitLaos". When is Laos going to make their own movie and get international exposure.
People with common sense knows it is just a fictional movie.
All I want to say is, if you can laugh at yourself, you have a firm grip on reality.
We all can choose to look at the plus side to this. Either way, it (blade) cuts both way. Lao tai yon kiat, Viet tai yon cu ci, just an old Laotian saying. Get over it is a new one. That probably what those guys said to those guys over yonder. Technically, I am not Lao, I am an American…so here I am, making my comment on what I think matter to my kins folks over there.
[...] amphone: We all can choose to look at the plus side to this. Either way, it (blade) cuts both way. Lao tai yon… Recent Trackbacks [...]