The Overture : Thai Culture Questions

Thai Culture Questions

I just saw the movie on HBO, and I liked it a lot. I loved the idea that human expression through music can not be bound. Traditions should not be wiped out, they are there to support a community, to give them a sense of identity, eventhough (and thank God for that) it evolves and adapts to new traditions.

Now, I do have some questions regarding the Thai Culture:

When Sorn played too fast (the first time he played in a big city) and off key in the music competition, I noticed that there were some coins, or metal objects that were dropped on the floor. What are they? What do they represent?

Can anyone tell me why the teeth of some of the actors (the young guy who takes Sorn's place when his dad bans him from playing, and the lady who asks Sorn to play solo) are so dark, rotten and in bad shape? Is it some kind of fruit or dish that stains their teeth? Or are they really rotten implying that the person is very poor?

Re: Thai Culture Questions

I am not Thai but I think I can answer your questions, Kapaliela.

The objects that you have mentioned are the ends of metallic hooks used to suspend the keyboard of the Ranad. Obviously if you put too much pressure on the keyboard the metallic pieces could be broken and to fall as you saw in the movie.

Your next question is easier to answer. No, the people with "dark" teeth weren't necessarily poor. I saw many people in India with teeth like that. The reason why they have dark teeth is because they were chewing Betel nuts. The juice of the nut is purple or reddish and stains the teeth.
For asians it is/was something normal to have "Betel Nut Teeth". But for westerners it look gross like if their teeth were in "bad shape" or "rotten", just as you have mentioned.

Look at this:
http://www.pbase.com/clyne/image/54537501

Therefore amongst younger and more westernized thais, indians, malaysians, etc. Chewing Betel nuts is considered something backward and even disgusting. That's another example on how traditional customs could be lost just because westerners thinks they are gross or embarrasing.

BTW amongst the quechuas and aymaras from Peru and Bolivia you can see something similar, just that in that case the people chews coca leafs instead betel nuts and the teeth turns greenish not reddish or purple.


Hope it helps. Cheerios!

Re: Thai Culture Questions

My English is not good, but please let me try to explain.

First, I'm Thai, and I would like to thank Oracle88 very much for the answers, even though it isn't right for all, but thanks a lot for helping. I'd also like to thank people interested in this Thai movie. I realize that this is not a very big film, big project, and it's from a small country which someone may not even know at all, but I'm really proud of this Thai movie. It deeply touched my heart so that I did cry. It's the best Thai movie in my heart ever, and I believe most of the Thai people think like me, so I'm really glad for hearing that someone not Thai likes this movie and thank for supporting. :)

For the first question: "When Sorn played too fast (the first time he played in a big city) and off key in the music competition, I noticed that there were some coins, or metal objects that were dropped on the floor. What are they? What do they represent?"

Oracle88's answer isn't quite right. That object was a piece of lead sticked under a piece of wood of the Ranad making scale of notes. (I'm sorry if I use the wrong English word.) I mean From the movie, I think you could notice that the Ranad (one of Thai musical instruments) is the instrument which its keys composed of many pieces of wood tied together with two ropes, and under the wood, there are pieces of lead like you saw one's falling in the movie. These pieces of lead are not like the same. They're thicker & heavier for the low notes, but thinner & lighter for the high notes. (something like that I'm not a musician, but learned by seeing and reading.)

The following description of Oracle88's answer is right: "Obviously if you put too much pressure on the keyboard (of the Ranad) the metallic pieces (pieces of lead) could be broken and to fall as you saw in the movie." In the movie, this incident stopped Sorn from playing the Ranad, and made him shocked by the wrong tune. Later, the same incident happened again in the big formal competition with Khun-In. This time, there were 3 pieces of lead fell, but Sorn still continued playing the wrong tune.

The second question: "Can anyone tell me why the teeth of some of the actors (the young guy who takes Sorn's place when his dad bans him from playing, and the lady who asks Sorn to play solo) are so dark, rotten and in bad shape? Is it some kind of fruit or dish that stains their teeth? Or are they really rotten implying that the person is very poor?"

Oracle88's answer is so right. Thank you very much. :)

Finally, I think If you were Thai, you could understand all Thai culture in this movie, you would think it's a really deeply nice beautiful impressive movie, and you'd love it. :)
Anyway, Does Thai music still sound good to you? And how is Thai food?
I'm proud of my Thai Culture. I'm proud of being the Thai People. :)

Re: Thai Culture Questions

Thanks for providing some extra insight into the culture. A delightful film! Great music.
Top