Getting Lao'D

By S. Steve Arounsack

Laos, USA | In English and Lao with English subtitles | 2018 | 27 min | PG

Singapore Premiere

In the early 2000s, the modern music and film industries in Laos emerged, more than 20 years after the country became a communist state. Filmed over a period of 13 years, Getting Lao’D is the story of a generation of pioneering artists. In an environment where one has to straddle the line between traditional and international influences, these artists re-imagine new stories and a new Lao identity in their work.

This documentary features many of the country’s most prominent musicians and filmmakers like Aluna Thavonsouk, Alexandra Bounxouei, Cells, Anysay Keola, and Mattie Do, and is perhaps the most comprehensive survey of those industries to date.

Supreme Court Wing, Level 5, UOB Southeast Asia Gallery, Theatrette

• Daily | 3.00pm

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S. Steve Arounsack (b. 1977, Laos) grew up in California around a vibrant Lao community. He is currently a professor of cultural anthropology at California State University, Stanislaus, and serves as the director of the Keck Visual Anthropology Lab. Most recently, he served as the lead cultural advisor for Raya and the Last Dragon, Walt Disney Animation Studio’s first feature film to highlight Southeast Asian cultures. The film was nominated for Best Feature Film at the Academy Awards and Golden Globe Awards.