More quiet, often reflective, dualistic, multiple-narrative cinematic wanderings through the Thai landscape,
urban centers, outlying rural expanses and deep jungles through the eyes of their key progressive cinematic
voice. Contemporary culture also plays a large role, often just as a foil to contrast the natural splendor and
life of the people and their relationship with the vibrant green spectacle that is the jungle. Often surreal, or
hinting at the metaphysical (or as in "Tropical Malady" direct interaction with the spirit world) his films both
describe the life of a people as they are, as they once were (first chapter of "Syndromes and a Century for
example) and in the more abstract passages, suggesting how they could be. Beautiful capsules of cinema
that remind the viewer of the small insights into the otherworldly that take place in the everyday.
Link to NWFF Short Films of Apichatpong Weerasethakul site
From the Northwest Film Forum:
"World cinema’s premier maker of mysterious objects, Apichatpong Weerasethakul is on a one-man mission to
change the way we watch movies. Rich and strange, postmodern and prehistoric, his films foster an experience
of serene bewilderment and –for the willing viewer – euphoric surrender. They are suffused with a sense of wide
-open possibility that sometimes explodes into epiphany."–Dennis Lim, THE VILLAGE VOICE
"Apichatpong Weerasethakul (SYNDROMES AND A CENTURY, TROPICAL MALADY) is a key figure in modern Thai
film and a highly original moving-image artist. He studied architecture at Khon Kaen University before completing
a Master of Fine Arts in filmmaking at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Influenced by American experimental
film, Weerasethakul is one of a small group of independent filmmakers working outside the Thai studio system. His
video installations, shorts and feature films explore the genres of documentary and fiction in uniquely Thai contexts.
Thai television, radio and comics provide story elements that may be enacted or embroidered by the characters that
drive Weerasethakul’s films. These two programs comprise rarely seen short works made by the acclaimed director
over the past 14 years."
