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2000s; The village of Praeknamdang, nestled in the Thai jungle, has fallen under the spell of something
2000s; The village of Praeknamdang, nestled in the Thai jungle, has fallen under the spell of something
The village of Praeknamdang, nestled in the Thai jungle, has fallen under the spell of Song Waad, the self-proclaimed medium of The Sacred Mother. Living in fear of his connection to the Patron goddess, the villagers offer up land and wealth to the religious leader, who grows more corrupt by the day. Only one family dares to resist his growing power: a couple and their talented ten-year-old son. Devoted to his family and his oxen, the boy has ambitions to become a master puppeteer, and dreams of a life beyond the village – despite his disability of permanently damaged arm, after falling from a tree. But, this life and this future, is threatened when the boy is suddenly attacked by a cobra. He becomes locked in a life-and-death struggle in which the border between the human and the animal disintegrates. Did the boy simply stray too near to a burrow, or is The Sacred Mother punishing his rebellion against Song Waad’s authority?
The village is fictional but oh so believable!
The translator’s notes gave some more information on the background and how the village of Praeknamdang is inspired by the village Sangsuk grew up in himself.
This section also offers up information on the wider cultural and social significance.
Destination: Thailand, ‘Praeknamdang’ Author/guide: Saneh Sangsuk Departure Time: unknown
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