About the Film
“Santi-Vina” is a landmark film for the Thai film industry and a film of a few firsts for the cinema of the country: it was the first Thai film to be shot in colour on 35mm and was among the first Thai films to be sent to an overseas competition, the 1954 Asia Pacific Film Festival in Tokyo. At the Festival, it was a sensation, winning awards for best cinematography, art direction as well as the Golden Harvest award for best Asian cultural representation. The film was soon to be lost though, as for years the only copy that existed for it was a very inferior quality 16mm print with the Thai Film Archive. However, in 2014, original negatives were found at the British Film Institute and release prints were also found at China Film Archive and at the Gosfilmofond in Russia. After going through extensive restoration, the film was finally screened at th 2016 Cannes Film Festival, with additional screenings across Thailand, which played to full houses.
Synopsis
This is the story of Santi, a poor 10-year-old blind boy and Vina, his neighbour and friend who pities him and protects him from bullies. Even when his father sends Santi away to live with the Buddhist monk Luang Ta, Vina is the one constant in his life. Even as grown ups, it is Santi and Vina, who have now become lovers, against the world, as Santi now even has to deal with the advances of Krai, a bully who used to make little Santi's life hell, who has taken a shine on Vina and intends to marry Vina, with her parents' blessings.
