At first sight, Agrarian Utopia is a pure documentary, but the underlying aims of the film slowly unfold underneath that – almost like a trap, even though it was not the aim to lead the viewer astray. Thanks to the way in which the film maker tells his story about the countryside and the disappearance of traditional working methods, it looks as if what you see always was and always will be. That is what he would like, but he knows better.
In order to show how a muddy rice paddy is tilled throughout the seasons, he even rented a piece of land. He offered local farmers the yield if they would work it in the traditional way. Without machines, without electricity. It looks so ordinary, yet it is fiction.
The farmer’s neighbour isn’t a farmer. He’s called ‘the professor’ and he has his very own ideas. His philosophical way of growing rice evokes amazement everywhere.
The film was shot in the north of Thailand in the region where the film maker grew up. In this regard it is also an autobiographical film. Certainly not a political pamphlet, although it is a plea for a respectful attitude to nature. Yes, that sounds utopian and growing rice in a utopian way looks wonderful. (GjZ)
Film details
- Country of production
- Thailand
- Year
- 2009
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2009
- Length
- 122'
- Medium/Format
- Betacam Digi PAL
