"Tongpan is the best fictional movie on Southeast Asia I have ever seen.  It portrays vividly the political and cultural gap between peasant realities and the good intentions of the liberal intelligentsia, and catches the illusion of Thailand's experiment with democracy." 

Ben Anderson
Professor of Southeast Asian Studies
Cornell University

"Filmed in the direct manner of the early Soviet silent cinema, the reconstruction of this simple incident has a quiet unexpected force... one of the most impressive films of Edinburgh Festival's first week."

David Robinson
The Times of London

"...one of the most important 'Third World' films of the decade."

Tony Rayns
British Film Institute

"A landmark film...the first film I know of which relies on native Southeast Asian artists for script writing, directing and acting while also providing great interest for American viewers...The American viewer who has lived in Southeast Asia will view it and weep."

Jay Henderson
Washington Review

"Tongpan is a beautifully made film and extraordinarily effective and valuable as a teaching device.  I would give it my most enthusiastic recommendation for use in courses dealing with problems of development.  It is the best film of its kind."

Franklin Weinstein
Director, Project on US-Japan Relations
Stanford University

Asian American International Film Festival
     (New York): Award of Merit

Tongpan screened at the Washington DC, London,
    Edinburgh, Hong Kong, Lille and Melbourne film festivals.