Abstract:
This research aims to study the intention of, and the concept in, the presentation of historically related accounts in the movie King Naresuan. It also attempts to analyze the construction of meaning in those events through the cinema. The research is limited only to two episodes, Aong Pra-Kan Hongsa and Prakard Issarapap, and is carried out by compiling and analyzing the information received from in-dept interviews conducted with key members of the production team. Additional information is collected from relevant documents and the video discs. The finding shows that the inspiration behind this movie mainly comes from H.M. the Kings and the Queens initiatives to pass on the history of the nation to the new generations and to urge them to learn about their origin. This will be carried out through the story that is the mixture of historical facts and the moviemakers imagination, taking into consideration the completeness, the plausibility and movies gratification. The main concept in the construction of meaning is built around the essence of the word freedom. In the first episode, the director tries to make the audience realize the real meaning of losing freedom by presenting the causes and the consequences of losing freedom and the hope of getting it back. In the second episode, the focus is on regaining the freedom by massing the man power, by having proper leader who is intelligent and capable, who has the virtue needed for creating the faith among people, and by acting at the right time with great tolerance.