Paradis - video

[ESS3NC3 0F 3V1L]

Peter Hove Olsen is a staff photographer for the Danish newspaper Politiken.

A few months ago he posted a video about Bangla Road. His mixture of video clips, stills, and choice of a backing track attempts to show a different side to the nightlife of Patong. I think he does it pretty damned well. Its not a great advert for Phuket, but I think he gets across a strong message.
[video=vimeo;8642193]http://www.vimeo.com/8642193[/video]

 

[I Can Get Sexual Too]

I liked that... catches a reflective vibe...

 

[razzy]

some good artistic shots in there which if allowed to stand alone would have an enquiring mind thinking about the whole "scene" that is "Bangla".......however to me strung together with that melodramatic music the whole thing just reeks of a judgemental, post apocalyptic morass....sorry but I find this a one sided, extremely harsh, overly moralistic and cynical viewpoint of what the phenomena of "Bangla" actually is...

 

[kaybeeq]

Fair shout, Nels. He actually stated that he found that Bangla Road was one of the saddest places he's ever visited. I agree that the video is more editorial than journalistic, but there is a different side to Bangla, and it is that, he is trying to show. He had no issue with Phuket, just Bangla.

 

[LadyrootFiX]

Its strange as I watched this with the music channel on foxtel belting out some modern pop tunes and thought it was a very good video...
then showed it later to my GF with the melodramatic music playing and felt the sadness

 

[sianisiani]

To be honest.. too pretentious.. Guy stood next to all the garbage.. Just too much proving a point..

He has skill.. Theres some great images and shots.. But I just always react badly to manipulation.

 

[Pompal 09.]

I went out with a Farang girl who was a professional photographer years back... I used to hate the fact that she couldn't appreciate a view, a moment or an occasion unless it was through the lens of her camera.... it seemed that her memories were all based around photos instead of actual moments in time.. she would stop for the most profound things the would make me question how she would notice such a thing.... but would end up with the most amazing pictures

 

[asian babe]

Enough with the drama and pathos already! If I was going to be generous I'd say this video misses the point of Bangla but really, I think it's just a big pile of fail.

 

[Banana Chicken Head]

I think you guys are far too precious about Bangla. There are many ways to view Bangla and if you see a way that seems negative you react that it's contrived/manipulated.
I'd say perhaps you are de-sensitised yourselves, because his view of Bangla is no way far from reality in my view... and it's just one view! You could have a happy, laughing, buzzy view as well... but lets embrace all versions of Bangla.

 

[ding]

look at the photos without the background music, those are pretty good shots. with the music on, it is just pessimistic.

 

[Bending the Skies]

well that was different...... Dont know what to think of it really......

 

[Gmoney1000]

what about the fun side of Bangla....????

 

[Ayameko]

This video isn't about that. It's like having a fun-side video of Bangla and then asking... "where's the seedy side?"

I really think a lot of people are missing the point here... :neutral:

 

[inquisitive_1]

I don't think they are missing the point, just choosing to ignore the fact that there is a bleak side to Bangla, as much as there is a fun side, a commercial side, a whichever side you like.

I like the way the video starts off with the images of a wonderful tropical paradise; long tail boats, families on the beach, tropical fish swarming, etc. Then, it goes on to show a contrast to all this; things that a lot of people on this board enjoy, and see as fun, are shown in a different light. The angles and lighting goes on to give the perception that the western men are the bad side, the girls are portrayed as lonely and sad. The combination of all this is piles of waste and rubbish.

I don't necessarily agree with the video's perception of Bangla, but it does show a side that does exist.

 

[Tiocfaidh ar la mo chara]

don't like it any more than usual 'positive' videos but find it less cringeworthy than those (= paradise where i'm the supastar i always knew i was and the wh0res aren't really wh0res, with a hip hop backing track)

 

[myfav1]

So if you were going to make a video about Bangla Road, how would you make it?

 

[fish apple tree]

hmmmm....there is one image in there that shows two girls facing towards a rubbish truck like they are about to be collected...sorry but this (amongst other images in there and that ridiculously melodramatic music ) is a making a strong moralistic judgement I don't care for...I have spent enough time on Bangla to see its seedy side and have no issue with someone portraying it....but to portray punters and the girls alike as human detritus is very heavy handed and over playing the card IMO

 

[Chad P]

Looks fantastic - Where is it again?

 

[Miss Lou Lou]

I didnt get all the negativity messages others did, I see scenes similiar nightly, and worse.
There is little doubt the guy is a master of lighting, quality night photography of this calibre is not easy to achieve.
Do you think the scenes of the flower on the road and Pretty Woman on the tv were seforum.xxxed?

 

[Dachele]

Maybe if he had bought a few Lady Drinks he wouldn't have been so depressed..