Filming in Nabua, site of a bloody 1965 battle between communist farmers and the totalitarian government, Apichatpong employs a roving, floating camera and incantatory, omniscient narration to simultaneously evoke the dangerous cycles of violence and repression.

More than just a warm-up to his Palme d’Or-winning feature Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, this short film from Apichatpong is a deeply felt look at the intersection of personal history and historical trauma—and it’s as hypnotic as anything the Thai master ever did.