Page 67 - ELITE PLUS MAGAZINE VOL6

THE PRIEST WHO MADE A DIFFERENCEA new biopic on Brother Hilaire explores the lasting influence of the French Catholic who came to love Siam and improved how Thai language was taught in schoolsThe challenge of making F.Hilaire was how to make the film current and relevantW hen the Brother Hilaire Foundation – a charity project under Assumption College, a well regarded boys’ Catholic school in Thailand – discoveredthat funds were ebbing away, it looked for a new campaign to raise interest. Instead of asking for help from well-to-do alumni, the foundation took the unique step of making a film about Brother Hilaire, the legendary French priest who became dean of Assumption College Bang Rak and author of Daroon Suksa, a Thai grammar textbook. With no previous experience in Thai, the priest came to love the language and excel at it, and after nine years of studying hewrote a textbook on it.“The movie is not about Assumption College and the school’s belovedschoolmaster per se. It is about a unique personality who did a great service for this country,” said Reverend Brother Louis Chanel, or Viriya Chantavarodom, president of the Brother Hilaire Foundation, during the premiere of F.Hilaire at Paragon Cineplex in March.The film involved professional actors and crew, with Surussavadi Chuarchart responsible for directing and Jason Young, a local Australian-Thai actor, assuming the role of Brother Hilaire.For Ms Surussavadi, the challenge of making F.Hilaire was how to make the film current and relevant.Elite+ 65