Best of the week

Published on November 9, 2007

‘Achieving the Unachievable’ directed by Jean Bergeron from Canada (2007).

 The annual Science Film Festival will screen more than 50 science-related movies from 12 countries from Tuesday until November 23. Organised by the Goethe-Institut, the French Embassy and the Thai Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology (IPST), the films offer educational, family entertainment in the fields of ecology, life science, medicine, technology, culture and history.

Thai films include "A Right to Live - Aids Medication for Millions", documenting the efforts of researcher Krisana Kraisintu who has developed and produced an inexpensive treatment of HIV that has since been licensed for production in other developing countries. There is also "Chao Phya", a Nation Channel documentary that examines the environmental problems along the "Mother River".

A workshop will be held on film-making and there will be an exhibition on biomimetics, or bionics.

The festival will take place at the Science Centre for Education (BTS: Ekamai), the National Science Museum (Rangsit Klong 5), the Children's Discovery Museum (BTS: Mor Chit) and TK Park (CentralWorld).

For more information,

call (02) 287 0942 or visit www.goethe.de/sciencefilmfestival.

Buddhist views

Swiss photographer Beat Presser returns to Thailand with his latest exhibition "Oasis of Silence" from today until November 27 at Patravadi Theatre.

On display are 64 monochromes portraying the lives of Buddhist monks and nuns in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Burma and Sri Lanka. The exhibition accompanies the launch of a book of his work, published in English and Thai in a special Thai edition.

Presser takes an artistic approach, offering an inside perspective of the daily practice of Buddhism. The photos are a mirror of today's living Theravada, a message conveyed by a foreigner with a fresh eye, offering a new perspective on an age-old reality.

For more information, call (02) 412 7287-8 or visit www.beatpresser.com

'Cats' scratch

The international touring production of "Cats" is in residence until November 18 at the Muang Thai Ratchadalai Theatre at The Esplanade (MRT: Thailand Cultural Centre, exit 3). Showtimes are at 7.30pm daily. 

Adapted from TS Eliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats", Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical drama follows the various members of a tribe of cats, awaiting an announcement by the lord, Old Deuteronomy, about which cat will be reborn in the "Heaviside Layer". While they wait, they entertain themselves by singing songs about cats past and present. Among the songs is the iconic "Memory", which has been performed by many artists, including Barbra Streisand, Barry Manilow and Placido Domingo.

The original, 1981 London production won the London Evening Standard Award and Olivier Award, while the 1982 Broadway version won the top Tony Awards.

Tickets are Bt1,000, Bt2,000, Bt3,000 and Bt4,000, are available at Thaiticketmajor.

For more information,

call (02) 262 3456.

The Beatles in Bangkok

Photos, guitars and the hit songs of the Beatles will be featured in the Bangkok Beatles 2007 festival from today until Thursday at CentralWorld.

Hosted by The Betters Music Academy, the festival displays more than 100 photos of the rock icons and guitars of John Lennon and George Harrison. During the festival Beatle tribute bands will perform daily from 5pm. Among then are The Betters, O'Reillys Beatles, Ood Faro, the Brit-Thai Beatles. Kingdao Thivawanwong will give a piano recital and the Concordian Girl Band will perform as well. Admission is free.

For more information, call (02) 667 5555 ext 4112.