Красный лотос (Лаос, 1988) Bua Daeng Red Lotus (ed. Som Ock Southiponh)

A rare Lao movie, “Red Lotus” is a fascinating glimpse of a culture and cinematography almost unknown outside its borders. Setting is a small northern village in Vientiane province in the early ’70s. The country’s brief 20-year period of independence, following longtime French rule, is coming to an end, as pro-Communist troops gain the upper hand over the royal Laotian army. The government wants to use the village as a bridgehead in its war against the guerrillas, and utilizes a cease-fire to build up troops there. Simple story is told from the . of country girl Bua Deng (Somchit Vongsamang), whose fiance, Man, has run off to join the Reds. Her mother urges her to marry the capitalistic Siang instead, and, despite her objections, the wedding takes place, alongside her sister Kamwan’s to a sympathetic government supporter. Finale has Man and company attacking the village, routing government troops and rescuing Bua Deng after her lecherous stepfather kills Siang and drags her into the woods.