SABAÏ – ON THE MEETING OF LAO PEOPLE
2002 I Nicolas Jouhet – David Phoulevanhong – Sébastien Veronese
“Tuned into everyday life”
“Laos is one of the poorest countries in the world. Its five million inhabitants come from a multitude of ethnic backgrounds. Half the population is less than 25 years old, which represents a staggering demographic force and unrivalled potential for growth for a Lao society, which is only just starting to open itself up to the rest of the world (symbolised by the Friendship Bridge built in 1994 to join Laos to Thailand and therefore the western world) but without really freeing itself from the millstone of its ancestral traditions.
A 55 minute documentary covering a three month journey around an area within a 375 mile radius of Vientiane, the capital, and Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its temples and the intact remains of the colonial years.
The three makers of this film effortlessly joined in with the daily life of the villagers and shared their incredible hospitality, at the same time forging strong ties with them.
It was a proximity that was never hampered by the presence of the programme-makers objectives, which have grasped with simplicity, trust and respect little-known slices of life, which are miles apart from the hustle and bustle of the western world.”
Hugo Gaspard
2002 I Nicolas Jouhet – David Phoulevanhong – Sébastien Veronese
“Tuned into everyday life”
“Laos is one of the poorest countries in the world. Its five million inhabitants come from a multitude of ethnic backgrounds. Half the population is less than 25 years old, which represents a staggering demographic force and unrivalled potential for growth for a Lao society, which is only just starting to open itself up to the rest of the world (symbolised by the Friendship Bridge built in 1994 to join Laos to Thailand and therefore the western world) but without really freeing itself from the millstone of its ancestral traditions.
A 55 minute documentary covering a three month journey around an area within a 375 mile radius of Vientiane, the capital, and Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its temples and the intact remains of the colonial years.
The three makers of this film effortlessly joined in with the daily life of the villagers and shared their incredible hospitality, at the same time forging strong ties with them.
It was a proximity that was never hampered by the presence of the programme-makers objectives, which have grasped with simplicity, trust and respect little-known slices of life, which are miles apart from the hustle and bustle of the western world.”
Hugo Gaspard