Surrounded by high rises, the Chao Mae Thap Thim shrine is holding out under a wave of gentrification that sweeps across Bangkok. A new documentary, The Last Breath Of Sam Yan, will be screened at Bangkok's independent cinemas to recount an all-out effort to save the century-old legacy of Chao Mae Thap Thim from redevelopment.
(Photo courtesy of House Samyan)
Directed and scripted by Prempapat Plittapolkarnpima, the documentary is produced by Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal and Settanant Thanakitkoses. It will be shown at House Samyan and Doc Club & Pub from Thursday onwards.
After a demolition order came in 2020, residents and students protested the plan to dismantle their community's shrine. Under its scheme, the Property Management of Chulalongkorn University (PMCU) intends to construct a 1,800-unit residential building for university staff and a dormitory for students.
In response to criticism, the property management arm has built a new shrine at the university's Centenary Park.
Sam Yan and its neighbourhood are now filled with shopping malls and condominiums. Previously, however, the area was the old centre for automobile parts. Now facing a lawsuit, the Chao Mae Thap Thim shrine is the only survivor of land reclamation. Dating back to the reign of King Rama VI, the sanctuary has long been cherished by community residents.
Check out the trailer at youtu.be/L0f7oYeTwN0.
