Cultures Crossing: Past and Future of Cinema in Socialist South East Asia

Abstract

The emergence of ‘global culture’ has been taken to indicate the end of distinctive local cultural forms, especially with regard to cinema. The focus on Western screen cultures, however, does not do justice to the complexity of Asian cultural production; nor does it consider the different role that local filmmaking may take in non-Western contexts. This paper considers the very small national film industries in three of the ‘socialist’ nations of South East Asia. Film cultures were shaped by colonial experiences, then dramatically interrupted by the Second World War and subsequently by the struggles over nationalism and independence that ultimately came under the sway of ‘socialism’ and the domination of the Soviet system. Recently, with some liberalization of government policies, independent filmmakers have again emerged at the same time as Western film on DVD and VCD has suddenly become available both legally and illegally. The past and current situation regarding film in these nations is discussed.