New to Weerasethakul: Where do I start?

Of the four features available on Netflix, which should I watch first and if you have a moment, why?

Sorry William, I have only seen his last 2 and they were both phenomenal but I am actually responding more to your profile page. It says you are studying under Robert Tregenza. Is this the Robert Tregenza who made a film called Inside/Out?

Honeycutt: Mysterious Object at Noon is the only one I’ve seen, but it should definitely be seen.

Oh good to hear Josh, that’s the one I’m starting with — sounded brilliant.

I wasn’t that impressed by Inside/Out. Tregenza’s work on Werckmeister Harmonies is simply astounding, though.
Anyway…
William, you should start here. A 2009 short film by Weerasethakul. It’s probably the greatest short I’ve ever seen. After that… all of his feature work is amazing. The guy is probably the greatest director alive today.

Mysterious Objects at Noon is probably my favourite. Maybe the best film all decade… along with Guimarães’ Andarilho, and Noè’s Irrèversible

To Mike: Yes, Inside/Out, Talking to Strangers, and The Arc. He’s the director of the Cinema program here.

To Josh: Well they all seem to be worth seeing I’d just like to know where to start, I guess from someone whose seen most or all of them. Thank you though.

Dammit, I totally forgot Phantoms of Nabua was Weerasethakul. It is astounding. I even made a Fake Criterion cover for it.

That looks a little somethin like this:

I still need to see Andarilho. DuShane, didn’t you send me a link once? I’ve lost that.

I thought that it was one of the greatest shorts I have ever seen, then I saw Leos Carax’s My Last Minute (thanks Gray Daisies!). Will ask for more advice on 1 minute short films in the near future.

Err..

To contribute, Phantoms of Nabua is truly mesmerising and brilliant. Regardless of whether one wants to start on Weerasethakul or not, see Phantoms of Nabua.

Alright, thanks to everyone.

Beautiful fake cover, Josh, really outstanding. I haven’t paid attention to that thread.

Anyway, Blissfully Yours is a marvellous film, might make a good double bill with Renoir’s Day in the Country. There’s one scene where the expression on the young woman’s face as she’s holding the guy’s penis is priceless

I thought Syndromes & A Century was really good.

I am not at all surprised that Mike Spence would know the name Rob Tregenza.

I’m having to go slowly with Weerasethakul. I see why he’s revered. Syndromes and a Century is very good, and Phantoms of Nabua is terrific. So I’m still watching.

There is a link about for Andarilho? Please share.

My recomendation would be to start chronologically, it would be interesting to see his cinema moving slowly from a docu-pulp “Mysterious Object” wich is definitely the best way to start, to the equally mysterious but formaly neat “Syndromes and a Century”. “Blussfully Yours” and “Tropical Malady” will do just fine in the middle, you’ll be gradually merged into his world.

For anyway you wish yo start Good Luck!

Tropical Malady was my first. It was the one that put Weerasethakul on the map outside of arthouse circles. Then I saw Blissfully Yours and I became a devoted follower since then and have seen everything I can, even The Adventures of Iron Pussy, which he was somehow involved with.

His name has been one that’s confused me, but i think it’s Apichatpong rather than Weerasethakul as an equivalent to say Scorsese or Mizoguchi. Can someone confirm with certainty?

I would also appreciate a phonetic pronunciation of his name so I can stop massacring it.

One interview I read had it as: Api-chart-pong Wee-ra-seta-goon

Quoting maxwellsilver:
“Apichatpong Weerasethakul = ar-pee-chart-pong wee-ra-seth-tha-goon (goon, not koon)
His nickname is ‘Joei’ but you can call him ‘Joe’ (He used ‘Joe’ when he studied in USA)
and it is polite to call Thai people by nickname (unless it is an official statement or something), if he/she is older than you, call him/her ‘P+nickname’ (ie. P-Joe) if he/she is younger than you, you call him/her ‘Nong+nickname’ (ie. Nong-Joe)"

From what I know Weerasethakul is his surname.

Just watched my first HW, Syndromes and a Century, quite the introduction. It is an exquisite film of pure poetry and an artistic clarity that is hard to come by these days. I don’t have the knowledge of his other films but you won’t go wrong by choosing that one. I am still in awe of the chilling experience that is watching that film. An inspiration.