Manta Ray
Phuttiphong Aroonpheng • 2018 • Thailand
Unlikely friendship amid the Rohingya refugee crisis.
Under the cover of night, a fisherman wading through a labyrinth of mangrove roots makes a startling discovery—an injured man, unconscious, submerged in mud. Returning to his small hut, the fisherman nurses this stranger back to health. The man does not speak, so the fisherman names him Thongchai, after a popular Thai singer. When the fisherman disappears, Thongchai goes looking for him.
A richly sensorial experience imbued with immersive soundscapes and evocative visuals, Manta Ray explores salient topics of identity, friendship, and loss within the context of one of the most pressing humanitarian issues of our time—the Rohingya refugee crisis. Phuttiphong Aroonpheng's feature debut premiered at Venice, where it won Best Film - Orizzonti.
