German films take centre stage at Woof Pack Gallery

Seven retrospective movies by German filmmaker Marco Wilms will take centre stage at several venues in Bangkok from tomorrow to Jan 21.

(Photos courtesy of German Embassy)

Held as part of the celebration of 160 years of the establishment of Thai-German diplomatic relations by the German embassy, the programme starts with the "Comrade Couture Film Photo Exhibition" at Woof Pack Gallery Bangkok, Sala Daeng Soi 1, with the opening reception tomorrow at 6pm.

The exhibition features photos from Wilms' humorous documentary Ein Traum In Erdbeerfolie (Comrade Couture) that will take viewers into the wild parallel world of fashionistas and Bohemians of East Berlin. It will wrap up on Jan 21.

This film tells of the longing, passions and dreams which were tested, experienced and lived out in the shadow of the Berlin Wall. The director, who was himself a model at East Germany's fashion institute at the time, sets out to once more resurrect this life's unique lifestyle, economic freedom and longing to be different in the here and now.

The documentary, as well as his six other films, will be screened at Documentary Club located on the same premises as the gallery from Saturday to Jan 15. The screenings will be followed by film talks with the director and invited Thai artists.

The line-up includes Mittendrin (Berlin Vortex), Art War, Likay Star, Naam Djai The River Of The Heart, Tailor Made Dreams and Metal Politics Taiwan. However, Naam Djai The River Of The Heart will repeat at Patpong Museum, Patpong Soi 2, exclusively on Jan 13 at 7.30pm.

All of the movies have both Thai and English subtitles (except Naam Djai The River Of The Heart which comes with only English subtitles).

The retrospective film programme will then go to Chiang Mai, where Wilms teaches filmmaking at Chiang Mai University's Faculty of Mass Communication, from Feb 3-25.

The film photo exhibition will be running at Alliance Francaise Chiang Mai on Feb 3 at 6.30pm and the screenings will take place there and at other venues in the province.

Visit woofpackbangkok.com, docclubandpub.com and facebook.com/heldenfilm.