ACF - Asian Cinema Fund

2007 Asian Network of Documentary (AND) Fund

LIST The Convert

Synopsis

"The Convert" is a documentary that chronicles the spiritual journey of a young woman who faces dual challenges: that of a single woman who becomes a wife and of a Buddhist who be converts to Islam. In a time when the image of Islam suffers a blow of bad publicity, June feels compelled to answer tough questions to herself as well as to people around her.

Director's Note

The idea of making "The Convert" was materialized when we met June, a woman who just got married to Salahuddin, a Muslim from the southern province. Being a Muslim suddenly has become somewhat of a shortcoming, even a burden, since the 9/11 incident. In Thailand, 95 percent of the population is Buddhist, only three percent are Muslim, and the majority of them live in the southern part of the country bordering Malaysia. Since 2003, an outbreak of violence committed by separatist movements has plunged the southern region into chaos, and further polluted the image of Thai-Muslims. We only believe that, through our observant eyes and patience, we can reflect certain values of society through the experience of this individual.

Festivals

2008 Busan International Film Festival - Wide Angle
2008 Documentary Forum in Thailand
2008 Vancouver International Film Festival
2008 Taiwan International Documentary Festival
2008 Yogyakarta Documentary Film Festival - Best Tahi Film of the Year
2009 Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival - New Asian Current Section

Still Cut

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