One of our own Thai films “Tropical Malady” took the number 52 spot in the BBC’s list of the 21st century’s 100 greatest films.
The BBC has recently released their list of the 21st century’s 100 greatest films. It might be a bit premature, since the century is only 16 years old, but we were proud to see that one of our own Thai films, “Tropical Malady” took the number 52 spot.
The 2004 film, from director Apichatpong Weerasethakul, is a surreal entry about a Thai soldier who is posted in a sleepy village where he falls in love with a younger man and encounters a ghost.
READ: Apichatpong on his last Thai film ‘Cemetery of Splendour’
It’s been quite a year for Apichatpong, who is, arguably, Thailand’s preeminent indie director. Despite being the force behind films like “Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives,” he hasn’t always gotten the respect or recognition he should from Thai people and his movies have been, some say, unnecessarily censored in the country.
However, he’s having a banner year in 2016. Not only did his film make the BBC’s list, the only Thai film to do so, he was also named a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science and will be the first Thai to ever cast a vote for The Academy Awards.
He’s starting to get more respect from the younger generation of Thais as well. When new hipster indie movie theater Bangkok Screening Room opens next month, “Uncle Boonmee” will show on their opening roster and play in the theater for at least a month.
How’s that for a film that was only shown on one screen in Bangkok when it was released in 2010, despite having won the Palme d’Or at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival?
Related:
Apichatpong Weerasethakul is the first Thai to join Academy and vote on Oscars
Apichatpong on his last Thai film ‘Cemetery of Splendour’
Apichatpong sends ‘Cemetery of Splendour’ to Cannes
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