Isan Odyssey

This film is a crafting hybrid documentary to weave different sets of incidents in ‘Isan’ or the northeastern region of Thailand. Isan is Thailand’s biggest region, with a population of one-third of the country. Yet, it is the poorest region and is most heavily affected by politics. The film begins by following the caravan of Mor lam, a popular folk music in Isan with roots in Lao culture. Then, the film springs forward to navigate pre and post-Cold War political uprisings whose repercussions still resonate today. The narrative becomes an odyssey, unfolding why Isan has been cursed to encounter endless unfortunate fates; all the while, Isan people still keep smiling, laughing, and having fun in a land of bloodshed and tears.