In Thailand's northern countryside, a ghost story is told to warn young people and travelers from wandering into the jungle. Many years ago, a lonely stable boy in charge of the king's horses went hungry, and was forced into eating one of his horses. He became sick, and died in the jungle at the edge of a river. Since then, a spirit known as the "pii maa bong" has been known to walk near the edge of the woods, taking the form of a human (man or woman) with the features of a horse. As revenge for his loneliness, the "pii maa bong" lures young lost travelers into the jungle, where they meet a watery grave.

Pony Blues is an adaptation of the Thai ghost story of the "pii maa bong," set to a cover of an American blues standard performed by Steve Gunn and Mike Cooper.

Taken from FRKWYS Vol. 11: Cantos de Lisboa
© and Ⓟ 2015 RVNG Intl.

Directed by Champ Ensminger

CAST
Boy....Padungsak Nility Treesoon
River Spirit....Vanfa Goi
Grandmother....Uy Lar
Horse....Kwan

Producer....Jess Ayles
Production Design....Jay Santiphap
Director of Photography....Ulises Baqué Esteve
Colorist....John Burkhart
Makeup....Jay Santiphap
Additional Footage....Jess Ayles, Christoph Ferstad, Guy Reid, Steve Kennedy
Horse Trainer....Nattapong Kamlang

MUSIC
"Pony Blues" 
Performed by Steve Gunn and Mike Cooper
FRKWYS Vol. 11: Cantos de Lisboa
Courtesy of RVNG Intl.

SPECIAL THANKS
The town of Pai, Thailand
Documentary Arts Asia
Planetary Collective
Living Films
Punspace

Press:
NPR Music