นางสิบสอง
12 Twelve
Nang, a deaf thirteen years old, youngest sister of twelve, is born into a primitive Manohra medium family, who lives for many generations deep in the forest of Southern Thailand, but now is challenged with modern day stigma of voodoo practice. After her grandmother’s death, Nang has to choose between inheriting the family's dying sacred tradition by become the Monohra shaman and save the family, or saving herself by run away for a more promising future in Bangkok.
Director’s Statement
This movie presents the content of intention in bringing a Thai woman character or woman in the famous literature to be applied as a story to have content criticizing society in modern era. The content is about gender inequality in archeology having women as inferior character functioning like a beautiful ornament to the male protagonist. Most of the women in literature have been portrayed as weak, abused, and unfair on many occasions even though the male protagonist comes to help eventually. The theme of the movie reflects that the changes in time that result in changes in the context of society according to the era cannot change the fate of femininity. It is also presented as another form of degradation pointing out that even though the world has changed for the improvement equipped with many conveniences and full of technology, the pressures of society still make life difficult for women. An ever-increasing materialistic society in every corner of the world makes women overwhelmed with false desires that they believe are true happiness.
The context and background of this movie is derived from the elements from the literature of Nang Sib Song, Phra Rot Meri and Phra Suthon-Manohra. Many people may have heard these stories but may never know that these three stories are the same story. Phra Rot, the son of the twelfth lady, was ordered by a giant lady to be killed by Meri. However, the hermit changed the killing order letter to love letter in order to make them fall in love with each other. Phra Rot escaped from the giant city to return the eyes to mother and 11 aunts. Meri died with broken heart. Before death, she prayed that in the next life she would meet Phra Rot again. In the next life, Meri was born as Manohra and Phra Rot was born as Phra Suthon who had to go finding his beloved Manohra to return to live together.
All backgrounds of these literatures will be inserted and presented through the lifestyle of Nohra ah Rongkhru family or “Nohra” as people often call. This is the folk art and culture that has been nurtured in the society of Southerners for a long time. Recently, Manohra has been registered by UNESCO as the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity for performing the Nohra Rongkhru ritual. The faith of the local people in the south is often linked to healing with the supernatural. Nohra Rongkhru has a variety of purposes showing respect and worship to the ancestors which are called by the villagers as Grandparents. It is also related to the remedies and cures for various diseases. The main aim of the Nohra show in this event is not about entertaining just like a general theater. Instead, it acts like a linkage to connect southern people in this world and the next world as one. Superstition and Buddhism are inextricably linked with Manohra.
Being a medium representing each generation of Nohra cannot be chosen. The Nohra master will be the one to choose. Whoever is chosen cannot refuse. Otherwise, they will be severely punished. Some are sick with fever while some may be fatal. Women can be Nohra master but they are in small numbers depending on some areas. In some small districts in Songkhla Province, there are strict prohibitions in not marrying. Before having haircut and having cloth tied to become the Nohra Yai or being the royal teacher, the persons are prohibited to marry and to lose virginity.
The main purpose of making this movie is to question the values of modern society and the future world using Thai cultural literature and the art of movie as a link to bring viewers together to find answers possibly changing attitudes and practices that improve the lives of women in the society.
