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โครงการรวบรวมและจัดทําวารสารอิเล็กทรอนิกส์ มหาวิทยาลัยเกษตรศาสตร์

232 Humanities Journal Vol.22 No.2 (July-December 2015)

screened at International Film Festivals in Rotterdam, New York Asian Film
Festival, Pusan Film Festival, and so on. In terms of text, the film is full of
elements constructed to reach the international film audience’s taste. The
elements include stunning scenery of Laos, appealing utopian lifestyle, and

beautiful Lao culture. The leading actors are from a different nationality: the
Laotian, Khamly Philavong and the famous Australian-Laos Bangkok based
actor, Ananda Everingham, to attract wide range of audience. The uniqueness
of the Thai-Lao co-production is later discussed.

As for international audiences, Good Morning Luang Prabang employs
many aspects of world cinema that would please filmgoers outside of Laos. The
uniqueness of locality obviously stands out in the film. Adding to that, Anousone

Sirisakda of Laos Art Media, the Lao co-producer of the Sabaidee film stated in
an interview on 13 September 2010 that the film has its own strength. It does
not have to imitate other films. It fulfills what the world has missed out today
such as unique cultures, gentle manners and beautiful landscapes.

Luang Prabang town, the world heritage site, is obviously the central
motif of the film. It appears in the film title and the place is where the two
protagonists move around. Upon discussing the film title, the similarity of the

languages between Thai and Lao should be examined. The film title Sabaidee
Luang Prabang in Lao means ‘Hello Luang Prabang,’ as the film translation in
English, Good Morning Luang Prabang. When the film was shown in Thailand,
the filmmakers still used the same title as in Lao, Sabaidee Luang Prabang.
Sabaidee Luang Prabang is understood by Thais as ‘[I am] fine, Luang Prabang.’

or in interrogative sentence ‘How are you?’. Even though the literal translation of
the film title into Thai and Lao languages is not exactly identical, the term
‘Sabaidee’ can be used as a greeting word for the two nations. The title of the
film thus evokes the similarity of the language and culture. The connection of