“A thoroughly unpredictable shape-shifter.”—Dennis Lim, Criterion
"I can’t think of another film remotely like it.” – Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
“Mr. Weerasethakul’s film is like a piece of chamber music slowly, deftly expanding into a full symphonic movement; to watch it is to enter a fugue state that has the music and rhythms of another culture.” Elvis Mitchell, New York Times
Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s (MFA 1998, HON 2011) breakout first feature is a dazzlingly uncategorizable mix of road movie, folklore, surrealism, and documentary. Shot in black-and-white 16mm while traveling across Thailand, Weerasethakul invited villagers, performers, schoolchildren, and others to contribute to an ever-expanding story inspired by the surrealist game of exquisite corpse. The result is a freewheeling collaboration in which fiction and reality continually blur, mutate, and surprise--from an outdoor musical performance to a children’s game to a story told in sign language by two Deaf teenagers. Growing out of the beguiling experimental films he made while at SAIC, the film introduces many of the themes he has continued to explore throughout his career, including myth, memory, collective storytelling, and the porous boundary between the real and the imagined. (Amy Beste) Screened as part of our 2002 Conversations at the Edge series.
25 For 25
To celebrate 25 years on State Street, the 25 For 25 series revisits standout titles from our State Street history, spotlighting films that have lit up our screens since 2001 and reflecting on the Siskel Film Center’s programming legacy. Each selection connects to a past Siskel program, highlighting the Siskel Film Center’s long-standing commitment to diverse and innovative curation.
The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu