Director
Jakrawal Nilthamrong
Cast list
Chanoda Ngwira Frackson
Felix Kalima
Maurice Mwelwa
Credits
Photography - Chatchai Chaiyont
Editor - Jakrawal Nilthamrong
Production design - Paul Luanga Jr.
Sound design - Akrichalerm Kalayanamitr
Music - Koichi Shimizu
Synopsis
Fiction and reality interact in a number of unusual ways in this drama from Thai filmmaker Jakrawal Nilthamrong. Nilthamrong was approached about making a film in Zambia, but rather than simply travel there and shoot a script of his own, he chose to make a film about making a film in Zambia. With this in mind, he contacted several Zambian directors and asked them for proposals on short films they would like to make. Watson Mututa responded with a script about a father with a seriously ill son who brings in a spiritual healer in hopes of saving the boy's life. Nilthamrong liked Mututa's idea and offered to finance and produce it; as Mututa made his short film, Nilthamrong made a film about the making of the short film, allowing us to see the fictional tale in full as well as the reality behind putting it on screen. Unreal Forest was an official selection at the 2010 Rotterdam International Film Festival.
Reviews
Zuilhof, Gertjan. "Jakrawal Nilthamrong." Mikehoolboom (online blog)