By the end, nothing much has happened, but all the same, picture casts a witchy kind of spell with its deep-breath pacing and undertow of unspecified malaise.
Syndromes and a Century(แสงศตวรรษ)
✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ Read critic reviews
Thailand, France, Austria · 2007
1h 45m
Director Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Starring Nantarat Sawaddikul, Jaruchai Iamaram, Sophon Pukanok, Jenjira Pongpas
Genre Drama, Romance
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Director Apichatpong Weerasethakul explores his parents' lives as young doctors before they were married or even knew each other. With the first part dealing with Weerasethakul's mother's journey and the second part dealing with his father's journey, this film examines the depths of point of view and personal memories.
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What are critics saying?
The New York Times by A.O. Scott
Syndromes and a Century, like its curious title, has the logic of a dream, a piece of music or perhaps a John Ashbery poem. Its coherence is evident; it is too lovely and lucid to be frustrating or dull. But it takes place just on the other side of conscious apprehension.
Syndromes and a Century, which was commissioned by the New Crowned Hope festival to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth, is a movie of long serene takes and gentle absurdities.
These moments, enjoyable and arcane, may not add up to a masterpiece. But they're uniquely Weerasethakul's.
As human beings, we're geared to desire an actual plot in our movies, and I regret to inform you that nothing really happens in Syndromes and a Century -- and yet the experience of the movie is all about the NOT happening.
Strictly for art-house types, particularly those familiar with the director, who makes no concessions to mainstream audiences. You have to abandon any preconceived notions about movies and allow your mind to be seduced by the mystifying, occasionally humorous world of a one-of-a-kind filmmaker. You might even find yourself becoming a fan.
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