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Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Loong Boonmee raleuk chat)

Release Date 19 Nov 2010 19 Apr 2011

  • User rating
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • Critic rating
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  33% of raters want to see this movie

Certificate: PG

Genre: Comedy | Family

Uncle Boonmee has chosen to spend his final days surrounded by his loved ones in the remote forest, an important place from his childhood and, he believes, the possible location of his former existences. Surprisingly, the ghost of his deceased wife appears to care for him, and the spirit of his long lost son returns. Contemplating the reasons for his illness, Boonmee treks through the jungle with his family to a mysterious hilltop cave -- the birthplace of his first life...

Cast:
Sakda Kaewbuadee | Jenjira Pongpas | Thanapat Saisaymar

Writers:
Apichatpong Weerasethakul

Producers:
Simon Field | Keith Griffiths | Apichatpong Weerasethakul

Directors:
Apichatpong Weerasethakul

  • Critic rating
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.

Movies.ie Critic Review

During their visit to Uncle Bonmee (Saisaymar), Tong (Kaewbuadee) and the elderly Jen (Pongpas) are visited one evening by both the spirit of their host's late wife, Huay (Aphaiwonk), and his deceased son,  Boonsong (Kulhong), the latter returning as a glowing-red-eyed ape. Boonsong tells of how he had mated with a monkey ghost in the jungle. Meanwhile, a facially-disfigured princess (Mongkolprasert) is enchanted by a talking monkfish, who lures her into the water and makes, eh, sweet, sweet love to her. After that, proceedings get a little weird.

THE VERDICT: This is a film that I feel positively guilty, and not a little bit stupid, for not loving. The winner of the Palme D'Or, acclaimed director Thai director Weerasethakul here deals with reincarnation and issues of migration whilst letting his imagination run away with him. It makes for an, at times, blissfully bonkers film, in a David-Lynch-on-safair way, but, I was never entirely convinced here. The amateur acting, the Aesop-on-acid storylines, the pregnant pauses, the long stares; it just didn't reach the parts for me. Perhaps when I'm older. And wiser. And know more about the fine art of filmmaking.

Review by Paul Byrne 

  • Avg User rating
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.

User Reviews

    • Currently 3/5 Stars.

    Onionhead

    Though not for everyone, it is a must see for anyone who treasures cinema. To my eyes and ears, it is a masterpiece. It is the way I wish more movies would be made - honestly, lovingly and lasting. And where else would you see a catfish making love to a princess and have it be so elegant. And where else would you found a line as beautiful and profound as, "Heaven is overrated. There is nothing there".