Charles de Meaux Movies
- 2010
- NR
- Add Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives to QueueAdd Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives to top of Queue
The recipient of the prized Palme d'Or at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, director Apichatpong Weerasethakul's hypnotic drama tells the haunting story of a Thai man suffering from kidney failure who retreats to the countryside to die in the company of his loved ones. As Uncle Boonmee nears the end of his life, the spirit of his late wife returns to guide him into the unknown, and his estranged son reappears in the form of a jungle spirit. Later, the ailing man leads his family on a journey to a hilltop cave where he first came into this world. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Thanapat Saisaymar, Jenjira Pongpas, (more)
The real-life love story between filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul's parents inspired this romantic drama which follows three separate stories occurring over a span of forty years. First, a shy but charming young doctor has just started working at a hospital in Bangkok, and he soon becomes deeply infatuated with a female surgeon on the staff. However, he has a rival for her affections, as she has feelings for a man who grows and sells orchids. Later, a monk comes to the same hospital for an appointment with a female oral surgeon; over the course of the visit, the two discover they have a powerful chemistry, which may be love or could represent a deep level of spiritual communication. Finally, a new intern on the hospital's staff finds it difficult to deal with the prying minds of the administrative staff and he escapes into the outer reaches of the hospital, only to discover a forgotten wing of patients suffering from a variety of unusual maladies. Starring Nantarat Sawaddikul, Sophon Pukanok and Jaruchai Iamaram, Sang Sattawat (aka Syndromes and a Century) received its world premiere at the 2006 Venice Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Nantarat Sawaddikul, Jaruchai Iamaram, (more)
One of Thailand's leading experimental filmmakers, Apichatpong Weerasethakul directed this ambitious examination of fear and desire. Keng (Banlop Lomnoi) is a soldier who has been assigned duty as a forest ranger in the woodlands of the country. While on duty, he meets a young man named Tong (Sakda Kaewbuadee); Keng becomes deeply infatuated with Tong, but while Tong is friendly with Keng, he is obviously unwilling to respond to his romantic overtures. As Keng deals with his disappointment, he learns that a number of animals and villagers have fallen victim to a vicious predator who may be a tiger or a shape-shifting shaman. Keng gathers his courage and begins tracking the beast, which alternately resembles a jungle cat and his friend Tong. Sud Pralad ( aka Tropical Malady) was screened in competition at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Banlop Lomnoi, Sakda Kaewbuadee, (more)
Min (Min Oo) has an itchy, flaky rash that covers the upper part of his body. When Roong (Kanokporn Tongaram), the young factory worker who cares for him, and Orn (Jenjira Jansuda), a much older woman, take Roong to see a doctor, he has to pretend he can't speak because he has had a severe sore throat since childhood, when in fact he doesn't speak because he's an illegal immigrant from Burma, and is not at all fluent in Thai. The doctor treats him, but won't supply him with the medical papers necessary to get a work permit, because he doesn't have the required paperwork. Min later visits her husband at work, and mentions that she'd like to have another child. Her husband is sympathetic, but is afraid to try again because their first-born child died. Instead of using the prescription she got for Min's rash, Orn prepares a homemade concoction, a mix of finely chopped vegetables and store-bought skin creams. She takes Min to visit Roong at work, and Roong leaves with Min, claiming that she's ill. She and Min travel to a remote cliff to have a romantic picnic lunch, while Orn has an erotic assignation with one of her husband's co-workers. Orn ends up lost in the woods, and eventually stumbles upon the young lovers. Blissfully Yours, writer-director Apichatpong Weerasethakul's follow-up to the festival favorite, Mysterious Object at Noon, won Un Certain Regard at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival and was shown at Lincoln Center in 2002 as part of their Film Comment Presents series. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kanokporn Tongaram, Min Oo, (more)
