User:Aitantv/Uncle Boonmee, Apichatpong

Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010) dir. Apichatpong Weerasethakul. Single channel film, stereo sound, 01:54:00 duration. Kick the Machine, Thailand.

• The film, which explores themes of reincarnation, centers on the last days in the life of its title character, who is played by Thanapat Saisaymar. Together with his loved ones—including the spirit of his dead wife, Huay, and his lost son, Boonsong, who has returned in a non-human form—Boonmee explores his past lives as he contemplates the reasons for his illness.
• Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives was inspired by the 1983 book A Man Who Can Recall His Past Lives by Buddhist abbot Phra Sripariyattiweti. The film is the final installment in a multi-platform art project by Apichatpong Weerasethakul called "Primitive". It premiered at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Palme d'Or, becoming the first Thai film to do so.

caring/nursing

• Jaai emplyed by Boonmee as a nurse from Laos, who "crossed the Mekong river", Boonmee explains
• Jen "Aren't you afraid of illegal immigrants? They can rob you, kill you, and disappear? - Boonmee "The Laos are more hardworking that Thais
• drains his liquid/kidney fluids

dinner scene - monkey host ghost

• there's a whole way of life around this quiet, rural setting
• outside under a warm hanging table lamp - sits Tong, Uncle Boomee, Aunty Jen - the sound of grasshoppers - single long takes with a static camera - after some mundane conversation - "Will you be comfortable in your bedroom?" "These chilli noodles are delicious"
• Huay appears, older sister of Jen the wife of Uncle Boonmee, at first transparent - the diners look back in surprise - "I often wonder how you are, if you have food to eat, clothes to wear" (Boonmee) - "Here have some water, maybe you have travelled from far away (Boonmee) - "Huay are you here to take me away?" (Boonmee) [the constant reminder of mortality] -
• a monkey-man appears with beedy red eyes - Uncle Boonmee: "Jaai, is that you?" - the family turn to look towards camera - "Who are you?" "Boonsong", the monster replies. Boonsong is the spirit of the son of a Boonmee and Jen - now at the table is a monkey ghost and a ghost. "There are many outside now", explains Boonsong, "spirits and hungry animals like me" - Boonsong disappeared six years after Huay died - Boonsong found this strange monkey creature in the mountains when he was practicing "the art of photography" using Huay's camera - he eventually mated with a monkey ghost and left the world behind
• There are stakes - Uncle Boonmee has to settle his estate his farm -
• Jaai arrives, nephew of Uncle Boonmee, confused by Boonsong, the mokey ghost at the table - he will clean uncle Boonmee's kidneys

waterfall

• the princess who has sex with a catfish
• "who are you? are you some kind of ghost?" Princess - "I'm not a ghost. I'm a catfish." Catfish - she feels inadequate
• "Most people don't have what you have." (Catfish) - "But they have love" (princess) - that catfish disappears, and the princes goes into the water - "Will you turn my body white and pretty like in that reflection? These are mofferings. For you, the Lord of the water, who I am so graetful towards" (Princess) - the princess offers herself to the fish god
• the magic fish creates a beautiful reflection of the princess
• the length of each shots adds a weight to gesture

the cave - at the opening of a dark cave - Uncle Boonmee "What's wrong with my eyes? They are oepn but i can't see a thing. Or are my eyes closed?" - Jen Maybe you need time for your eyes to adjust to the dark.- Boonmee "This cave... It's like a womb, isn't it? I was born here in a life I can't recall. I only know that I was born here. I don't know if I was a human or an animal, a woman or a man."

• the dark entrance to a cave - subtle natural light - a monkey ghost appears with the luminous red eyes -
• cut to exterior shot of dark blue misty forest, many monkey ghosts staring back - the red beedy eyes fixed on the camera