Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010)

This was actually my first viewing this month, but I opted to wait until after a scheduled Meetup discussion to write my review. It's the kind of film I have trouble evaluating without a broader perspective.

In modern rural Thailand, Boonmee (Thanapat Saisaymar), around age 60, has a kidney disorder and knows he is not long for this world. Perhaps that's why the ghost of his wife (Natthakarn Aphaiwong) shows up and sticks around. Soon after, their long-vanished adult son (Jeerasak Kulhong) returns as a sort of glowing-eyed yeti, explaining that he got that way from sex with another such creature, which he calls a Monkey Ghost. Everyone in the homestead -- including Boonmee's nephew and caretaker (Sakda Kaewbuadee), who's not as prominent as the title implies -- acknowledges these surprise guests but is not alarmed. Indeed, things progress quite peacefully toward the conclusion, a mix of the inevitable and the unpredictable.

The title is adapted from an allegedly nonfiction book by a Buddhist monk. On screen, Boonmee doesn't even bring up his past lives except when he surmises that he was once born in a present location, and he can recall nothing else about that life. Some scenes have nothing obvious to do with Boonmee or his family, as if intended for a whole other picture; perhaps they depict his past lives without saying so. Otherwise, there seems to be a bit of bait-and-switch herein.

In a DVD extra, director Apichatpong Weerasethakul begins by saying that even he doesn't know what the movie's about. I think it's best described as an exploratory mishmash with less focus on plot than on atmosphere. He combines multiple styles of Thai film, tho I can hardly tell the difference. He chooses old-fashioned methods (e.g., no CGI) both in tribute and as a way to disrupt our immersion. His stated theme is the decline/end of tradition, which applies to filmmaking as well as certain character practices.

This was not made with westerners in mind. Cannes attendees couldn't stand it, and IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes audience scores reflect mixed opinions. For starters, you have to be pretty patient: Several moments drag on considerably with nothing much happening. I learned to appreciate them as conducive to meditation, clearing my mind before the next revelation. That ties into my other warning: You'll get more out of it if you know a few things about Thai culture, particularly Buddhism and recent history. I doubt that every supernatural element of the story comes from a myth or legend, but knowing them probably helps.

Other Meetup members had generally positive feelings about UBWCRHPL, even amid their confusion. We certainly found a lot of possibilities to ponder. If you don't mind a lack of definite answers, maybe you too will enjoy it cooking your noodle. Or maybe the beauty of the natural environment, with almost no musical distraction, will satisfy you.