Complicated Verses Resound in ‘The Serpent’s Song’

Nont whispered to her that she knows where “she” is. The young nun finally speaks and talks about forgiving sins, relating to the bible verse Nont talked about last time. She was still staring aimlessly while listening to music. She remembers the corridors of the convent, the calm swaying of the trees, and faint laughter.

Meanwhile, Mother Superior grills another young nun who refuses to admit what she witnessed.

The young nun who has selective mutism remembers her female lover in bits and pieces. She slowly speaks but only uses bible verses, too, as her music teacher still helps her through music. She prays and remembers her lover and some of their memories together. She remembers when they kissed and when they became intimate. She remembers that time when she woke up after spending a night together and she was alone. She looks up to see a cross hanging above her bed and sees her lover getting dressed up to leave. She continues to pray but shouts just as hard because of her painful memories, a shadow of a cross fills her head. She remembers seeing her lover cut herself which led to her death.

The music teacher asks her what her name is, and she finally says her name is Leela, the first conversation she has had that does not involve a bible verse. Leela cries, clutching her rosary.

Once she begins speaking, Nont tells her that his job here is done and she does not need lessons from him anymore.

Mother Superior talks to another young nun, telling her that the convent is not for the weak-minded, implying thatLeelaa is going to be sent to another convent. The young nun was dismissed from their talk when the people from the Bangkok convent called Mother Superior, to which she asked why they gave her such a teacher, but it seemed that she was taken aback by their reply.

The young nun goes to the music room where Nont and Leela had their lessons. But when the young nun tried to play the piano, it was not working at all. The wind shook the tree.

Leela leaves with Nont, as the music teacher leads her to a hole just right by the tree. Both disappear.

Writer’s thoughts:

‘The Serpent’s Song’ shows how trauma can lead someone to have physical manifestations in their daily lives. Leela and her lover seemed to have gone through so much, especially being nuns and also being lesbians. The movie showcased a sad story about grief and love, one of which was portrayed perfectly by Kitty Chicha. It was never fully shown or, at least, implied what made her lover take her own life, but we can only assume that their relationship was possibly exposed, or her lover was already suffering from a mental illness. Either way, Leela was the one who suffered. She never truly got over the loss of her lover, but she was still very reliant on her religion, despite showing doubts about her faith throughout the whole ordeal.

Biblically, the serpent lives in the tree where it lured Adam and Eve to eat the apple to gain knowledge. In this story, it seems that the serpent was Nont, the music teacher, especially as he lured the religious nun into the tree and earlier, he also got Leela to speak by telling her that he knows where “she” is, seemingly talking about her lover. So in the end, Leela chooses to go with Nont because she possibly believes that is where her lover is, too. But, this could be merely a personal interpretation.

Still, this short film is a must-watch, especially if you are into indie-like films, plus, it stars the ever-amazing Kitty Chicha.

Watch ‘The Serpent’s Song’ here.