All Rise…
If you’ve seen a film in Thailand, you are familiar with the fact that, before every film, you must stand and pay respect to the King. With the number of films I’ve seen (a lot), I’ve heard the Royal song a huge amount of times and watched the different short films they display to give an idea of how much of a great guy the King is.
From what I’ve written so far, you’re probably expecting that I’m going to rant about how the King isn’t great and it’s all propaganda (which is something I’ve heard – from a Thai person!).
I’m not.
I like the Royal song. In fact, sometimes I sing along. Sure, I don’t know all the words or the meaning of what I’m saying, but I’m putting the effort in and am getting close to knowing the whole thing. Most of the arrangements of the royal song are beautiful to listen to as well – much better than the national song which has got to be the most dull and boring sounding national anthem I’ve heard in my life.
There is one thing that bothers me, and it’s with the latest iteration of the short film they display while playing the Royal song. There is one shot where a farmer is looking up into the sky, they show the sky and then they show the same guy, still looking up, with rain pouring over him.
What are they trying to say? Are they saying that the King has somehow used his Royal magic to make it rain or are they trying to be symbolic and show that he has brought prosperity to Thailand. Considering the rest of the images displayed, I don’t believe it could be prosperity – maybe I’m missing something.
Anyway, long live the King.
Although I wouldn’t want to second guess anything, or insult anyone, espiecally by saying anything untrue about the Thai King… I believe he has a patent on making rain. Maybe that’s something to do with it?
He is also known as “The Possessor of the Four and Twenty Golden Umbrellas” which, unfortunately, I can only find explained in Swedish, although they are a feature on the Small Royal Carriage as well.
I have no problem standing for the anthem, but I do love seeing the confusion of tourists as they register whats going on and wonder if they should also stand!
I guess that’s the 21st century’s equivalence of “magic”…
:)
No matter what anyone says though, I’m proud to have a king like HM the King. :)
I think I remember my mum saying once that when she was young you had to stand to pay respect to the Queen (of England) at the cinema.
Quite possibly, but not that I know of. Certainly these days (and most of my life), the British Monarchy are a bunch of ridiculed, pointless, inbred fools. Figureheads for noone except the most old-school of person who believes it’s ok to support jobless rich people who do little to enhance the countries image.
Actually, there’s “Royal Rain” which is the artificial rain-making project initiated by The King in 1955. I think it’s the meaning of that part of the film.