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CPH PIX Copenhagen Film FestivalsCPH PIX is Denmark's new feature film festival. Launched in 2009 as the result of the merger between the city's two long-running festivals the Copenhagen International Film Festival and the Natfilm Festiva, it instantly became the biggest festival in the Danish capital ever. CPH PIX focus on new talents, new ideas, new trends and artistic courage, both in the festival's film programme and in its collaborations across artistic genres and cultural institutions CPH PIX also host COPENHAGEN FILM MARKET in September. CPH PIX is part of COPENHAGEN FILM FESTIVALS which also house BUSTER (children and youth films) and CPH:DOX (documentaries). UNCLE BOONMEE at Copenhagen Film FestivalINTERVIEW WITH: Apichatpong Weerasethakul
UNCLE BOONMEE WHO CAN RECALL HIS PAST LIVES (Thailand, 2010) screens at Copenhagen Film Festival 2011
INTERVIEW WITH Apichatpong Weerasethakul.
During the 51st Thessaloniki Film Festival, I had the grand pleasure to
In Thessaloniki, Joe was an honorary guest in the ‘Independence Days'
Let the interview between 'Joe' and I begin:
JOE: Is it okay to interview with all this sound?
(A LOUD BAND struck up next door)
ME: Yes, well, this is a funny and informal setting to be sure.
JOE: Where are you from? (noticing I am not Greek)
ME: From California and from all over. And you are from Thailand in the region near Laos?
JOE: Yes, that's where I grew up but now I live in the north.
ME: Awesome. Well, first of all, I want to congratulate you on winning
JOE: It was like... going to Mars... (we all laughed) It was so surreal.
ME: Your film is termed a ‘multi-platform Primitive' film. Can you explain
JOE: Well, the film ‘Uncle Boonmee' is a feature film, right, and it's
ME: So, it's about multiple lives as well as multiple forms of cinema as well.
JOE: Yes, the film itself is about layers of different styles of cinema
ME: And you filmed it entirely near the border of Laos?
JOE: Uh, it's quite near. It's a city not far from the Mekong River that
ME: And it's close to your history as well?
JOE: Well, not really. I really have to be there and just to explain
(Here the BAND next door began to play louder)
ME: Uh Oh, now I have to speak louder as we're competing with the
JOE: I like it actually!
(We Both laughed and ‘Joe' sipped from his water. He remained cool and sweet,
Me: Can you speak about themes about the film...about the memories, the
JOE: Yeah, ‘hybrid' is the word because the film is like a combination
ME: That's really interesting. And you say that this film is not a political film.
JOE: Right. Right. Somehow there's a political issue that I couldn't
ME: I also read that this is kind of a tribute for you for a death of
JOE: Well, I hope that it's not dead. I mean, it's not dying. That's why
ME: Like David Lynch who won the Palme d'Or for Mulholland Drive, your
JOE: Well, for me, the audience has to be very very passive or very very
ME: You really give people that sense throughout the film, of the
JOE: Yeah, for me I would prefer that they take their own experience. I
ME: Do people ever tell you that they appreciate your film more after
JOE:
ME: So, what is your next project? And will you continue to film with actual film?
JOE: Well, the next project will be 2013. I hope. And I don't know. By
ME: Can you tell us about the book that ‘Uncle Boonmee' is based on?
JOE: Well, because my previous films always deal with memory. My home
ME: I like how you introduce almost every genre in this film. Basically,
JOE: (laughs) It works for some!
ME: Yeah, it works for some. It's definitely a film that sticks with you
JOE: Yeah, what I mean by dreams. You cannot really somehow explain it
ME: I love the scene where you have the monk and the woman on the bed
JOE: Yes, it kind of suggests that time could be not only one layer. It
ME: There definitely seems to be a trend with non-linear storytelling
JOE: Well, I think that maybe with technology and the internet for sure
ME: How did you get into film? What was your journey to get you here
JOE: I was a timid and really shy person from a small town. And a movie
ME: And now you're here! So, tell me... like the monk in Uncle Boonmee
JOE: (laughs) Hopefully on the beach!
ME: LOL! Yes, on the beach watching the beautiful Thessaloniki sunset! I
JOE: Thank you! No No It's been my pleasure.
And then Mr. Weerasethakul and I shook hands, spoke about the festival
Interview conducted and transcribed by Vanessa McMahon
December 08, 2010
See more on Apichatpong Weerasethakul in TIFF here: http://www.filmfestival.gr/default.aspx?lang=en-US&loc=1&&page=607&newsi...
See trailer for Uncle Boonmee here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk-EoUb0nvg
29.04.2011 | CPH PIX Copenhagen Film Festivals's blog Cat. : 24 Hours 9 Album Anthology films Apichatpong Weerasethakul Apichatpong Weerasethakul Artist California Cinema of Thailand Company Founded Contact Details Damascus International Film Festival Entertainment Entertainment Films http://www.filmfestival.gr/default.aspx?lang=en-US&loc=1& http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk-EoUb0nvg Laos Like David Lynch Palme d'Or Quotation Technology Technology Thailand the 2010 Cannes Film Festival the 51st Thessaloniki Film Festival the Palme d'Or Tim Burton Uncle Boonmee Who Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives Vanessa McMahon World Health Organization
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