Matthew Hunt's 'Thai Cinema Uncensored' Examines Film Censorship History and Ideology

In his 2021 publication, 'Thai Cinema Uncensored,' released by Silkworm Books and the University of Washington Press, Matthew Hunt examines the history of film regulation in Thailand, starting from its initial feature films to present-day concerns. He outlines the development of censorship, beginning with the 1930 Film Act, which created a formidable censorship committee. Hunt identifies three primary taboos: sex, politics, and religion, incorporating perspectives from ten Thai filmmakers. Following public backlash over edits to Apichatpong Weerasethakul's 'Syndromes and a Century' (2006), the 2008 Film and Video Act retained restrictive categories. The book discusses nine censorship disputes after 2008, demonstrating how censorship safeguards national, religious, and royal interests while encouraging self-censorship. 'Thai Cinema Uncensored' is priced at £20.99 in paperback.