Pictures & Plot Synopsis From Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Cannes Entry ‘Uncle Boonme Who Can Recall His Past Lives’

Just announced for Cannes 2010, festival favorite Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s new feature “Uncle Boonme Who Can Recall His Past Lives” has some pictures and a plot synopsis from the film producer’s website:

Suffering from acute kidney failure, Uncle Boonmee has chosen to spend his final days surrounded by his loved ones in the countryside. Surprisingly, the ghost of his deceased wife appears to care for him, and his long lost son returns home in a non-human form. 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…

His first feature since 2006’s “Syndromes and a Century” — which was given hell by the Thailand government for featuring medical personnel drinking on the job and monks playing guitar — Weerasethakul’s films are minimalistic and experimental, using simple plots and focusing on atmosphere, nature, and society. They are not for every film-goer, but this writer places “Syndromes and a Century” as one of the strangest and best film experiences in the last ten years. The film was also widely celebrated, landing on many critics best-of lists. Yet, despite the acclaim, “Syndromes And A Century” received a limited North American theatrical run though we encourage you to catch up with it on DVD.

For a small taste of what he has to offer, Weerasethakul’s newest short is available on the auteurs, an excerpt from the feature titled “Letter to Uncle Boonme.” It’s a non-narrative letter to the director’s deceased uncle, taking place in Nabua, where there was a violent fight between farmers and the government. Though you have to pay to watch it (just a US dollar), its a pretty incredible and touching 17 min film, that’s well worth that hard earned cash.

“Uncle Boonme Who Can Recall His Past Lives” premieres In Competition at Cannes 2010.