- Vichit Kounavudhi
Infobox actor
name = Vichit Kounavudhi
imagesize = 180px
caption = Thai film director.
birthname =
birthdate = 1922
birthplace = Chachoengsao,Thailand
deathdate = 1997
deathplace =Bangkok ,Thailand
othername =
occupation =Film director ,screenwriter
yearsactive = 1930s-1970
spouse =
partner =
children =
parents =
influences =
influenced =
website =
awards =Vichit Kounavudhi (Thai: วิจิตร คุณาวุฒิ , 1922-1997, born in
Chachoengsao ,Thailand ) was a Thaifilm director andscreenwriter . His works include the docudrama "Son of the Northeast ".Biography
Early career
Vichit graduated from Vajiravudh College in 1946 and started working as a journalist under the pen name Kounavudhi. He got into filmmaking in 1950, when he was offered the
villain 's role in "Fa Kamnod".He then started working as a screenwriter, writing the dialogue for an adaptation of Wannaboon Withayakom's "Phrom Bandan". His first screenplay was "Santi-Weena", an acclaimed drama directed by Tawee "Kru Marut" Na Bangchang. It went on to competition in the 1955 Asia Film Festival in
Tokyo , where it won several awards, including best cinematography for cinematographerRattana Pestonji .Vichit started directing in 1958 and made 23 films until he retired in 1989. He had a string of action films in the 1960s and early '70s. Several starred legendary leading man
Mitr Chaibancha . He also made several films with actorAdul Dulyarat .Later films
In the 1970s, Vichit was among the filmmakers who highlighted social problems in their films. His 1978 drama, "Mia Luang", or "First Wife", examined the issue of men taking mistresses or a "mia noi" (second wife).
His next film, 1979's "Khon Phukao", or "Mountain People", was an adventure tale about a young hill-tribe couple. It included a documentary-style introduction of the various ethnic groups in northern Thailand.
"Look Isan", or "
Son of the Northeast " was shot in a similar documentary style to "Mountain People". Set in Thailand's rural northeast in the 1930s, "Look Isan" is a sympathetic depiction of a hard-scrabble life, with vivid wildlife photography and some rousing action sequences. It is regarded as Vichet's best film.His 1985 film, "Her Name is Boonrawd", was a look back at the
Vietnam War days and the prostitution scene aroundUtapao air base, whereUS Air Force troops were based. In it, a spirited young woman struggles to earn an honest living and find true love with one of the American officers.In 1983, Vichit was awarded an honorary doctorate in Communication Arts by
Chulalongkorn University and was honored in 1987 by Thailand's National Culture Commission as a National Artist.Legacy
In 2005, the
Bangkok International Film Festival included four films by Vichit in a retrospective: "First Wife", "Mountain People", "Son of the Northeast" and "Her Name is Boonrawd". The festival also gave its annual Lifetime Achievement Award to Vichit, presenting it to his widow.The festival program noted that: "Vichit Kounavudhi is regarded today as a master of the Thai motion picture industry - one of the greatest inspirations to later generations of filmmakers, praised as a genius of directing, screenwriting and editing. What makes his films special is not sophisticated technique, but an exceptional clarity and concision."
Partial filmography
* "Operation Bangkok" (1966)
* "Top Secret" (1967)
* "First Wife" ("Mia Luang") (1978)
* "Mountain People " ("Khon Phukao") (1979)
* "Son of the Northeast " ("Look Isan") (1982)
* "Her Name is Boonrawd" (1985)References
*Bangkok International Film Festival (2005). [http://www.bangkokfilm.org/2005/download/Vichit.pdf Festival program] .
*Wee, Brandon (2005). " [http://www.sensesofcinema.com/contents/festivals/05/35/bangkok2005.html Nationalism for the Main Course] ", "Senses of Cinema". Retrieved December 24, 2005.
*Baldwin, Kim (2005). " [http://www.notesfromhollywood.com/page.cfm?Sectionid=8&typeofsite=storydetail&ID=827&storyset=yes A Festival to Remember] ", "Notes from Hollywood". Retrieved December 24, 2005.External links
*imdb name|id=1001225|name=Vichit Kounavudhi
* [http://www.thaifilmdb.com/en/pp01463 Vichit Kounavudhi] at the [http://www.thaifilmdb.com Thai Film Database]
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