The Cursed Mask (ตาโขน)

Joi.

Come on. Let's bring your dad dinner.

It's getting dark. He's starving.

Okay.

Hurry.

You're taking forever.

Put on your shoes.

Now, come with me.

FOREST DEPARTMENT NURSERY

Dad!

- Oh. - I miss you.

Sweetie.

Why are you here?

Grandma made you some Om soup.

Did she?

Wow, it looks fantastic.

Mom,

I'll finish this mask first, then join you.

What? Why are you making it?

You said you'd skip this year's parade.

I would. It's just a keepsake.

We're moving to Bangkok soon.

What? I told you I wouldn't go.

Why do I have to? I've got my own house here.

Mom, I've made my decision.

Go have dinner in my office.

Dig in before me if you're hungry.

FOREST PROTECTION UNIT NO. 60 NA SAWAI, LOEI

Dad…

Dad!

Dad!

Dad…

What are you doing?

Are you asleep?

Phi Ta Khon,

to the locals,

means "the spirits that follow."

The people of Dan Sai have long believed

these spirits are their ancestors.

Their souls never vanished,

but they linger, guarding every place,

including Phra That Si Song Rak,

Ho Luang,

Ho Noi,

or even local spirit shrines.

When the sixth month arrives,

the festival begins.

Hundreds of masks, handcrafted by the locals,

fill the streets with joy

and devotion.

At the chime of the bells,

the spirits are awakened

and walk among the living,

joining the parade

to drive away misfortune.

Once the festival is over,

the masks are set adrift on the Mun River,

carrying away every ill.

And if it rains after the festival,

it means

the ancestors have heard their prayers.

DANSAI - LOEI, THAILAND

Nut, let me ask you something.

So, how did you end up here?

Nothing dramatic.

My boss just kept

dumping these dumb stories on me,

so I joked to a friend that he was stupid.

Turns out he was right behind me.

Game over.

Deserved.

You deserved to be fired

for talking behind his back.

And now I'm stuck here,

documenting some ridiculous festival.

It's completely dumb.

Hey,

don't say that.

Don't you know

that this is the time

when the spirits of our ancestors

put on masks and walk among the living?

And if your words reach them,

how do you think they'd feel?

They'd be angry, furious, and mad.

Seriously.

Hey,

aren't you a Christian?

Why do you believe in this stuff?

What? So you don't believe any of it?

Not even a bit?

If one must be punished, let it be her.

I have nothing to do with this.

You can't punish me, you know.

You'll regret it.

Want a lottery ticket?

Hey…

There's a festival today.

All of them are lucky numbers, all nice and auspicious.

But two-eight is popular here.

Want some?

I don't.

- A wire transfer will do. - No.

Is she mute?

She's not.

She's deaf.

Jan…

Wait, I'm about to buy one.

Nut,

why the fuck are you standing there?

It's hot.

- Get in the car! - I know. I am.

Couldn't stop talking to them, huh?

Are they related to you or something?

You just arrived.

Jan,

I've told you

not to do that.

We're not beggars.

Don't make yourself seem helpless,

okay?

Yes, Uncle Sak?

Uncle Sak,

where's my grandma?

In there.

I just said your son is dead.

Pong is dead!

Hey,

my son's not dead.

I'll slap that mouth of yours.

That's enough. Please stop.

If you don't,

I'll put you all in jail.

Whoa,

you're gonna do that to me?

Did you forget you were my son's friend?

Auntie, please leave.

- Go. - Come on, Grandma.

Joi,

take care of your sick grandma.

Don't let her insult anyone again, okay?

You all revere these spirits so much, huh?

I'll deal with them

and wreck all their spirit shrines.

- Come on, Grandma. - You bitch.

Take her, Joi.

- Just leave. - Grandma!

Jan's watching!

- Come on. - I can walk.

Leave me alone.

- Now leave. - Let's go.

Jeez, she's insulting all of us.

That's enough. Leave.

Grandma,

why would you say that?

They hate us enough already.

Well, they're crazy,

saying my son's dead when he's not.

Joi,

come here. Come to me.

Here, have your dad's favorite Om soup.

Come on.

Grandma,

Dad's gone.

Are you cursing your own dad?

Have you lost your mind?

Wasn't it you who cursed him?

You built a house over the spirit shrine,

violated the tradition,

and insulted the spirits of our ancestors.

That's why we ended up this way.

Go away, Joi.

You think I wanna be here?

I want to move to Bangkok,

get a job, and pay for Jan's treatment.

I'm gonna be with my son here.

- He's not dead. - Grandma,

he's not with us.

He's been dead for a long time.

Go wherever you want.

I don't care, and I'm not going.

Come on.

I'll get you some Om soup.

Take it to your dad.

What are you doing?

Hey!

What now? Joi!

- Stop that. - Dad's dead.

Why would you keep this?

Joi, please.

Joi…

You win, Joi.

I'll do whatever you tell me to.

What's wrong with you? Why did you do this?

Aw, my son…

Pong…

All I want is to be with my son.

I don't want him to die.

Why did you do this?

I miss Pong. I miss my son.