Manta Ray

A Thai fisherman cares for a wounded man he finds in a coastal woodland where secretive things occur. Many bodies have been hastily buried there. At night, lights akin to the souls of the dead roam around. The fisherman calls this man 'Thongchai'. Although the latter is mute and probably deaf, a great friendship slowly blossoms. This leads the fisherman to make a decision with far-reaching consequences. After he goes out fishing and doesn’t come back, Thongchai gradually takes over his saviour’s life, including the latter’s wife who has returned.

The realism of this initially simple story melds with magical elements into a complex whole leaving plenty of room for interpretation. Aroonpheng dedicated his first feature film to the Rohingya, as the dead could be deceased refugees from neighbouring Myanmar. This poetic homage has won several awards, including Best Film in the Orizzonti section at the Venice Film Festival.