The Importance of Being MLABRI

Kunsten at Vaere Mlabri / Denmark/Thailand 2007 / 59min. Mlabri, Northern Thai, Thai with English subtitles.
Directors Janus Billeskov Jansen, Signe Byrge Sorensen / Producer Signe Byrge Sorensen

The Mlabri people were hunters and gatherers in the jungles of Northern Thailand bordering Laos. They have so far managed to keep their identity and unique language alive but only number 300 people. For the older Mlabri, fear is the main reason for not integrating into mainstream society. They were not recognized as equal Thai citizens until only a few years ago. But the jungle is gone. A nomadic lifestyle cannot be sustained and the outside society is closing in on them.

The first youngsters are getting ready to enter mainstream Thai society. Chalat is one of six children, about to leave for boarding school in order to get more than 6 years of education but the older generations find it hard to let them go. Chalat’s older cousin Chuwit is in his late 20s. He grew up in the jungles with no formal schooling. He has learned to read and write and believes that the Mlabri need to cultivate their own land to survive. He understands democracy and is ready to make use of his political rights to fight for the Mlabri people’s right to run their own affairs, but do he and his people stand a chance? To do so, the two generations need to come together but it’s hard for the two to find common ground.

The elders also hope that new Mlabri marriages will secure the future generations but it is an almost impossible task to retain the purity of their tribe as there are few single Mlabri of marriageable age to match one another.

This film documents the turning point in Mlabri history as they struggle with the questions: How does one adapt to the world outside? How does one integrate without disappearing?

Find similar films by topic: Ethnic, Social/Human Interest