World Cinema Amsterdam | Internationaal filmfestival | 18 – 27 Augustus 2016

Apichatpong Weerasethakul | Thailand, England, Germany, France, Spain |
2010 | 113' | Thai spoken, Dutch subtitles


In the unique oeuvre of Apichatpong Weerasethakul, spirit and material, present and past, reality and desire are constantly bound up together in a natural way, allowing him to create his own universe, in which nothing is impossible.

When his kidneys fail, Uncle Boonmee decides to spend his last days in the countryside, surrounded by his nearest and dearest. His deceased wife somewhat surprisingly appears at his bedside to care for him. His son, who he lost contact with a long time ago, returns home – in non-human form. Thinking about the causes of his illness, Boonmee takes his family on a trek through the virgin jungle on the way to a mysterious cave on a hill: the place where his first life once began.

Apichatpong made this film in the north-east region of Thailand, where he also found the inspiration for the Boonmee character. Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives was a surprise winner of the Golden Palm at the Cannes film festival. Jury president Tim Burton praised the film’s completely original take on elements from the fantasy genre. He also said that the film gives a specific insight into Thai culture, “at a time when films from different countries are starting to resemble one another.”

Saturday 14 August, 07.00 PM, Rialto
Sunday 15 August, 04.30 PM, Rialto