Angulimala (film)
Encyclopedia
Angulimala is a 2003
Thai
fantasy
-adventure
-drama film
based on the Buddhist
-scripture story of Angulimala
as interpreted by the director and actors of the film. The film is directed by Sutape Tunnirut and stars Peter Noppachai Jayanama as Angulimala, Stella Malucchi as Nantha, John Rattanaveroj as Vikul, Alisa as Mantanee and Catherina Grosse. The story is a tale of redemption for the character, who embarks on a series of killings in which he murders 999 people (the Buddha was to be his 1,000th kill), collecting a finger from each victim and wearing the fingers in a garland
around his neck. Later, when he realizes he was tricked into his wrongdoings, he tries to atone for his sins by becoming a Buddhist . The film was controversial on its release in Thailand, with religious leaders, local public and government officials arguing it was a distortion of Buddhist teachings.
, Ahimsa
ka is studying under a guru
when he sees a woman named Nantha attempting to commit suicide
by jumping off a cliff. He saves her, but later learns that Nantha was intended to be the bride of his teacher.
The teacher, angered by Ahimsaka's attention to his wife-to-be, tells his student that the only way he will attain enlightenment
is to kill 1,000 people. This sets Ahimsaka off on a life as a highwayman
, and at first he seeks to kill only bandits and other evildoers. To keep track of his victims, he takes a finger from the right hand of each, and wears the fingers around his neck, thus earning him the name Angulimala
, "the wearer of a garland
of fingers." He struggles to find 1,000 victims, so he resorts to killing all who cross his path. Nantha, wanting to stop the killing, tries to kill Ahimsaka, but only succeeds in killing herself.
Eventually, he meets the Buddha
himself, who tells Ahimsaka of his wrongful ways and convinces the killer that he can redeem himself by becoming a Buddhist
monk.
called for the film to be banned, voicing concerns that it distorted Buddhist teachings , showed them in bad light and glorified violence. The film was initially blocked from release by government censors
, who demanded the film be re-edited for the concerns of the public in Thailand most of which are Buddhist and not Christians.
Some violent scenes were removed and the film's tagline was changed. It was then viewed by revered monk Phra Phisan Dhammavadhi, who had earlier called for the film to be banned, and found acceptable.
The film had poor box-office reception in Thailand, which critics blamed on the poor show and violent and negative depiction of the film.
Nonetheless, Angulimala won at the Thailand National Film Association Awards
for best costumes, best visual effects and best supporting actress for Alisa Kajornchaiyakul. It was screened at the Moscow International Film Festival
in 2004, where it was in competition for a Golden St. George. It also screened at the Asian Film Festival of Paris in 2004,.
2003 in film
The year 2003 in film involved some significant events. Releases of sequels took place with movies like The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, Pokémon Heroes, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines,...
Thai
Cinema of Thailand
The cinema of Thailand dates back to the early days of filmmaking, when King Chulalongkorn's 1897 visit to Bern, Switzerland was recorded by Francois-Henri Lavancy-Clarke. The film was then brought to Bangkok, where it was exhibited...
fantasy
Fantasy film
Fantasy films are films with fantastic themes, usually involving magic, supernatural events, make-believe creatures, or exotic fantasy worlds. The genre is considered to be distinct from science fiction film and horror film, although the genres do overlap...
-adventure
Adventure film
Adventure films are a genre of film.Unlike pure, low-budget action films they often use their action scenes preferably to display and explore exotic locations in an energetic way....
-drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
based on the Buddhist
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
-scripture story of Angulimala
Angulimala
Daku Angulimala is an important early figure in Buddhism, particularly within the Theravada suttas...
as interpreted by the director and actors of the film. The film is directed by Sutape Tunnirut and stars Peter Noppachai Jayanama as Angulimala, Stella Malucchi as Nantha, John Rattanaveroj as Vikul, Alisa as Mantanee and Catherina Grosse. The story is a tale of redemption for the character, who embarks on a series of killings in which he murders 999 people (the Buddha was to be his 1,000th kill), collecting a finger from each victim and wearing the fingers in a garland
Garland (decoration)
A garland is a decorative wreath or cord, used at festive occasions, which can be hung round a person's neck, or on inanimate objects like Christmas trees. Originally garlands were made of flowers or leaves.-Etymology:...
around his neck. Later, when he realizes he was tricked into his wrongdoings, he tries to atone for his sins by becoming a Buddhist . The film was controversial on its release in Thailand, with religious leaders, local public and government officials arguing it was a distortion of Buddhist teachings.
Plot
Born a BrahminBrahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
, Ahimsa
Ahimsa
Ahimsa is a term meaning to do no harm . The word is derived from the Sanskrit root hims – to strike; himsa is injury or harm, a-himsa is the opposite of this, i.e. non harming or nonviolence. It is an important tenet of the Indian religions...
ka is studying under a guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
when he sees a woman named Nantha attempting to commit suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
by jumping off a cliff. He saves her, but later learns that Nantha was intended to be the bride of his teacher.
The teacher, angered by Ahimsaka's attention to his wife-to-be, tells his student that the only way he will attain enlightenment
Enlightenment (spiritual)
Enlightenment in a secular context often means the "full comprehension of a situation", but in spiritual terms the word alludes to a spiritual revelation or deep insight into the meaning and purpose of all things, communication with or understanding of the mind of God, profound spiritual...
is to kill 1,000 people. This sets Ahimsaka off on a life as a highwayman
Highwayman
A highwayman was a thief and brigand who preyed on travellers. This type of outlaw, usually, travelled and robbed by horse, as compared to a footpad who traveled and robbed on foot. Mounted robbers were widely considered to be socially superior to footpads...
, and at first he seeks to kill only bandits and other evildoers. To keep track of his victims, he takes a finger from the right hand of each, and wears the fingers around his neck, thus earning him the name Angulimala
Angulimala
Daku Angulimala is an important early figure in Buddhism, particularly within the Theravada suttas...
, "the wearer of a garland
Garland (decoration)
A garland is a decorative wreath or cord, used at festive occasions, which can be hung round a person's neck, or on inanimate objects like Christmas trees. Originally garlands were made of flowers or leaves.-Etymology:...
of fingers." He struggles to find 1,000 victims, so he resorts to killing all who cross his path. Nantha, wanting to stop the killing, tries to kill Ahimsaka, but only succeeds in killing herself.
Eventually, he meets the Buddha
Gautama Buddha
Siddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian...
himself, who tells Ahimsaka of his wrongful ways and convinces the killer that he can redeem himself by becoming a Buddhist
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
monk.
Cast
- "Peter" Noppachai Jayanama as AhimisakaAhimsaAhimsa is a term meaning to do no harm . The word is derived from the Sanskrit root hims – to strike; himsa is injury or harm, a-himsa is the opposite of this, i.e. non harming or nonviolence. It is an important tenet of the Indian religions...
/Angulimala - Stella MalucchiStella MalucchiStella Malucchi is an Italian-Colombian model and actress. Fluent in the Thai language, she has primarily worked in Thailand, and has acted in two films, Tears of the Black Tiger and Angulimala....
as Nantha - John Rattanaveroj as Vikul
- Kamron Gunatilaka as Sati
- Alisa Kajornchaiyakul as Mantanee
- Catherina Grosse
- Varin Sachdev
- Anant Sammarsup as Kakkapakawa
Reception
Religious leaders and BuddhistsBuddhism in Thailand
Buddhism in Thailand is largely of the Theravada school. Nearly 95% of Thailand's population is Buddhist of the Theravada school, though Buddhism in this country has become integrated with folk beliefs as well as Chinese religions from the large Thai-Chinese population.Buddhist temples in Thailand...
called for the film to be banned, voicing concerns that it distorted Buddhist teachings , showed them in bad light and glorified violence. The film was initially blocked from release by government censors
Censorship in Thailand
Freedom of speech in Thailand was guaranteed in the articles 39, 40, 41 in the 1997 Constitution.According to those articles, censorship may be imposed to preserve national security, maintain public order, preserve the rights of others, protect public morals, and prevent criticism of the royal...
, who demanded the film be re-edited for the concerns of the public in Thailand most of which are Buddhist and not Christians.
Some violent scenes were removed and the film's tagline was changed. It was then viewed by revered monk Phra Phisan Dhammavadhi, who had earlier called for the film to be banned, and found acceptable.
The film had poor box-office reception in Thailand, which critics blamed on the poor show and violent and negative depiction of the film.
Nonetheless, Angulimala won at the Thailand National Film Association Awards
Thailand National Film Association Awards
The Thailand National Film Association Awards is a Thai film industry ceremony held annually by the Federation of National Film Associations of Thailand...
for best costumes, best visual effects and best supporting actress for Alisa Kajornchaiyakul. It was screened at the Moscow International Film Festival
Moscow International Film Festival
Moscow International Film Festival , is the film festival first held in Moscow in 1959. From its inception to 1995 it was held every second year in July, alternating with the Karlovy Vary festival. The festival has been held annually since 1995....
in 2004, where it was in competition for a Golden St. George. It also screened at the Asian Film Festival of Paris in 2004,.