Tropical Malady

This is a film that shifts gears on you suddenly and dives headlong into its own mysticism. Apichatpong's films have the qualities of a dream but in this one it's clear that he's spinning a contemporary variation of a folk tale. There are some great inspired scenes in this..especially with the spirit realm of the forest and the joyful motorcycle ride after the soldier's interlude with his lover. It's a surreal meditation which explores love, sexuality, and mysticism without kitsch.

The first half has a bit of a WKW style, though a much rawer feel that doesn't quite match the reliance on mood and striking visuals, but I still quite enjoyed it. The second half really didn't work for me, though. Yeah the visual style is great, but it's not enough, or maybe I just wasn't in the right mood. I couldn't get a feel of where it was going and the bits of poetry were uninteresting to me.

Differentiating itself from a standard dichotomy of good and evil, to instead, once again, use multiple realities and themes, e.g. a traumatic, military history, forbidden love, the animalistic, 'sensitive' soul, 'revenge' and 'surrendering', to name a few, and have them clash with each other, seeking as Weerasethakul always does for reconciliation, paving a path forward.

Some amazing moments in each section, but overall it didn't connect with me like Weerasethakul's other works. The second part really plods along, with lots of trudging through the jungle. And it's a bit harder for me to relate to a homosexual relationship than a hetero one. It's handled respectfully and has some sweetness to it, but it makes it tougher for me to get invested. Still, Weerasethakul is incapable of making an uninteresting film, and his flair for the unusual is always appreciated.

What an endlessly mysterious and haunting film. Like Syndromes, its bifurcated structure presents contrasting halves, but this one's narrative is more linear and tangible (though no less fascinating for it). The mystical treatment of love and longing, combined with the superstitious folk-tale influences, make for an elusive yet strongly compelling story. The jungle photography is magnificent; some of the film's nighttime shots are awe-inspiring.