FAHTHAI
119
CAMBODIA COUNTRY CODE
+855
EXCHANGE RATE
KHR4,000 = US$1
PHNOM PENH FREQUENCY
5 flights per day from Bangkok
HOMEGROWN SUCCESS STORY’S GUIDE TO VIENTIANE
TEXT: CLAIRE KNOX; PORTRAIT: GUILLAUME MEGEVAND
Director’s guide to Vientiane;
crafty Cambodianmarket;
Angkor’s inspiring photo festival
Cambodia
& Laos
THEGUIDE
What are your early memories of
film in Laos?
I was born in Vientiane, raised
here until I was about 10, then
went to Bangkok to study. I
came back to Laos to finish
high school, and then completed
a bachelor’s of multimedia in
Melbourne, before taking my
master’s in Bangkok. I was
born in the shadow of the
VietnamWar so its legacy was
very apparent. Laos was hugely
affected. Needless to say, there
was no cinema back then.
When you returned to Laos in
2007, how had film changed?
A new cinema had opened called
iTech. There was also a Thai/Laos
co-production being made – that
was a landmark for Lao film.
But despite a clutch of interesting
cinema types, we weren’t seeing
any inspiring Lao movies so I
decided to chase my career and set
up Laos NewWave Cinema.
Any young directors you're eager
to see more from?
We can expect many bright
young filmmakers in the next few
years. Right nowMattie Do is
pretty exciting. She’s one of the
only female filmmakers in Laos
and her horror flick,
Chanthaly
,
screened at the LP festival.
Do you find Vientiane to be a
"cinematic" city?
Yes, of course. Laos in general is
so striking – the mountains, rice
fields, the mighty Mekong, the
architecture of its cities.
Why do you live in Vientiane?
It’s home. I always wanted to
settle here. Roots are important.
I love the lifestyle, the tempo, the
pace. There’s no rush. We have a
saying here “everything is okay”;
people are happy and easygoing.
My favourite neighbourhood is
called Mixay village. It’s a hip
area over by the Mekong River
and is full of cool cafés and
galleries. You can laze in a bar
and watch locals jog around the
river.
What's your perfect day in Vientiane?
I’d kick start my morning with
a thick, strong local coffee from
a street stall, then head to any
local café for a breakfast of beef
noodle soup. I’d follow this by
wandering the city; the temples
are gorgeous with all the colour
and the monks in their vibrant
robes. I’d then grab a snack
– grilled beef skewers from
a local barbecue joint – and
head to the Mekong and check
out the galleries. My favourite
restaurant is Kap Kao Lao, I’d
lunch there on great Lao fusion
cuisine. For dinner I’d head to
the sophisticated Wine 95 on
Rue Setthathilath – great cheese,
live jazz music and, of course, a
glass of red wine.
lpfilmfest.org;
laonewwavecinema.com
V I E N T I A N E
CITY GUIDE
Filmmaker Anysay
Keola highlights
his favourite spots
in Vientiane, the
city he calls home
On set
CelebratedfilmmakerAnysayKeola
is a championof the emergingLao
cinema scene. As the kingdom’s
biggest filmfestival gets set toopen in
LuangPrabang, the31-year-old sings
the praises ofVientiane, his hometown
