Pob in the 21st Century in the Short Film He Is a Real Ghost, Please Trust Us

Abstract

        The short film He Is a Real Ghost, Please Trust Us (2022), written and directed by Metas Usaha, was released at the 2022 Wildtype Film Festival. He Is a Real Ghost, Please Trust Us is a mockumentary that shows the story, thoughts, and life of the Phi Pob, the belief of people in the northeastern region.

         This research article studied the meaning of Pob from the short film He Is a Real Ghost, Please Trust Us through documentary research and textual analysis. The results showed that Pob in He Is a Real Ghost, Please Trust Us looks very different from other Pob depicted in the media and academic papers. The film relates Pob’s attempt to survive and live in society, and Pob is emotionally inclined to love and reject the possession of another human because of affection. Pob also performed a trick to survive with the sorcerer family.

         Moreover, the film displays the differences between ages. The new generation does not believe in ghosts but believes that a shaman deceives others, while middle-aged Isan people still believe in ghosts and exorcist rituals.