Bookended by screenings of two masterpieces by Apichatpong Weerasethakul (2007’s best film, Syndromes and a Century, and 2004’s equally great Tropical Malady), is a rare collection of the Thai director’s experimental films and shorts to be shown at the Anthology Film Archive this weekend.Program One includes The Anthem (2006), Windows (1999), Malee and the Boy (1999), Like the Relentless Fury of the Pounding Waves (1995), and Thirdworld (1997). Program Two also contains The Anthem, as well as Ghosts of Asia (2005), Luminous People (2006), My Mother’s Garden (2007), and World’y Desires (2005).This is an unexpected chance to catch up with the rarer of the gentle, experimental visions by this most wonderful of directors. They are films that have been shown in galleries or as part of omnibuses but otherwise are quite difficult to see. Nathan Lee gives a great introduction to these shorts for the Village Voice, to be found here.
Program One screens on Jan. 18 at 7:00pm (filmmaker in person) & Jan. 19 at 4:45pm. Program Two screens on Jan. 18 at 9:30pm (filmmaker in person) & Jan 19 at 7:00pm.