Lao Department of Cinema

Background

As its name suggests, it is the department of cinema of the Lao government, which is part of the Ministry of Culture. Until 1989, the department had a monopoly on film production. The first feature-length film produced after the monarchy was abolished is Gun Voice from the Plain of Jars, directed by Somchith Pholsena in 1983, but its release was prevented by censorship.

(1976)

Nickname: "The Emblem"

Logo: On an August First-like blue space background, we see the coat of arms of Laos used from 1975 to 1992 (Two crescent-shaped stalks of fully ripened rice at both sides and red ribbons bearing the inscription "Peace, Independence, Democracy" ("ສັນຕິພາບ ເອກະລາດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ") on the left, and "Unity and Prosperity" ("ເອກະພາບ ວັດຖະນາຖາວອນ") on the right, and finally, the middle ribbon containing Laos' full name: "Lao People's Democratic Republic" ("ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ"). Over the middle ribbon, there's a cog wheel, and inside the whole circle, is depicted a paddy field, a forest and a hydroelectric dam. And over them, there's the hammer and sickle, with a 3D-like red star over it). We cut to video footage video of waterfalls and a sea. After the 4th scene of the sea, we cut to the opening scene.

Technique: The advanced background for the 1st part. Live-action for the 2nd part.

Music/Sounds: A proud-sounding bombastic French-like orchestral fanfare.

Availability: Seen only on the propaganda film Ladu Ban Haim (New Spring). Don't expect this to appear on the aforementioned Gun Voice from the Plain of Jars (1983).

Legacy: A beautiful logo overall, but the bombastic fanfare and the sudden cut to footage of sea may get some people.