so since I put this movie on my drive for @disaster-j, I figured I would share it with you all as well, because it’s my favorite work from p’nuchie after not me of course (though both works are absolutely not comparable in any way.)
so let me tell you about this movie because it absolutely blew me away. in a way, it felt very reminiscent of thailand’s most renowned director’s work, joe “jay” apichatpong weerasethakhul, from whom I’ve seen tropical malady (2004) & uncle boonmee who can recall his past lives (2010). malila: the farewell flower feels especially close to tropical malady, both being movies about a queer relationship that feature supernatural elements as well as the beautiful greenery of the thai countryside.
that being said, malila: the farewell flower (2017) is for me a lot more accessible than weerasethakhul’s work which is way more supernatural & abstract. malila: the farewell flower though, while still very much a surreal experience, absolutely was a slap in the face in terms of directing and execution. it is absolutely an artistic movie, very slow and contemplative, yet its cinematography alone is enough to make it an enticing experience. the acting is subdued but enhances the story, and the writing is simple but extremely effective in its delivery.
overall it is a very impactful movie, and I still have some shots engraved in my mind. my favorite thing about it really is the use of thai culture & religious beliefs through the flower-weaving technique of baisri. this is absolutely not a happy movie, so be prepared, but I believe that if you want to get into thai cinema, you absolutely have to watch this one. it personally touched me more than the blue hour (2015) which I already quite liked. hope you enjoy :)
