Bangkok Joyride 4: Becoming One

Overview

A filmed record of the Shutdown Bangkok protest, from 26 January – 8 February 2014. What happened during the last elections, before the coup d’etat against Yingluck Shinawatra, Thailand’s first woman prime minister? Does anyone remember or pretend not to remember? Fortunately that doesn’t matter, as this street history had a diligent and conscientious witness. This is not the story of the headlining stars, who are mere backdrop for the millions of real heroes and heroines—ordinary yet extraordinary people of every class, every age, profession and geographical region, now including farmers from upcountry who have reinforced the ranks of the Shutdown camps in central Bangkok to demand payment owed to them by the government’s rice-pledging scheme. Amidst the threats and attacks, distortion, loss and injury, how did these people overcome their natural fear of death and, just as important for success, their rage for revenge?