It’s almost time to sink into the gentle wavelengths of Apichatpong Weerasethakul with Memoria.
I’m not going to bother with much of a plot description for two reasons. One, this trailer is very vague. Two, plot isn’t really the point in Weerasethakul’s films. Suffice it to say that a woman hears a strange noise that she’s fascinated with, and the movie goes somewhere from there.
What I am comfortable saying is that this will likely be an experience, as most of Weerasethakul’s films are. There are few out there using film to manipulate mood and feeling quite like him, his films being absorbing, atmospheric things you fall into. He won the Palme d’Or for Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, and I nearly fell asleep (in a good way) during Cemetery of Splendor. Both are equally high recommendations in my book.
Memoria will be his first English-language film, and with that comes access to actors his Western audience will be more familiar with. Of course, it’s Tilda Swinton who immediately jumped at the chance (she has great taste), so she’ll wander through the film looking for the strange noise.
This doesn’t have a release date yet, but with its premiere already over at Cannes and several major festivals lined up in the coming months, expect this to hit theaters late this year or early next. And in the meantime, catch up with this singular filmmaker if you aren’t already familiar with him.
Memoria is directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul and stars Tilda Swinton, Elkin Díaz, and Jeanne Balibar.
Will you go on this mysterious journey? Let us know in the comments!
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