One of the leading directors within the blossoming Thai New Wave movement, Bangkok architect-turned-filmmaker Apichatpong "Joe" Weersethakul ('Mysterious Object at Noon,' 'Blissfully Yours') is at his most creatively potent in 'Tropical Malady,' a mystical, erotic and highly experimental love story set within the modern-day jungles of northeastern Thailand. Introduced by a quote about how we must all train the wild beasts within us to perform non-animal tasks, the film begins with fleeting glimpses into the playful, euphoric new affair between attractive soldier Keng (Banlop Lomnoi) and shy country boy Tong (Sakda Kaewbuadee). Flirting between car windows, riding a motorbike together and snuggling at the movies, the idyllic courtship seems destined to end happily. Then, without warning, the film fades to black at its midpoint, where the second half (titled "A Spirit's Path") transforms from documentary-like realism into an existential allegory. Tong disappears into the night, and Keng now ventures on a solo hunt for a ghostly, shape-shifting tiger that is responsible for killing livestock. Is this elusive creature actually Tong, and if so, how does this strangely primal folk tale reflect upon the first half of the movie? Questioning the way we look at sexuality, spirituality and film narrative itself, 'Tropical Malady' is a stunningly original work that could hang on a museum wall.

Unforgettable Scene With a morbid sense of humor that plays on our expectations, the opening image is a cluster of soldiers squatting in a field together for a group photo. For a minute, the camera shows only the men organizing their huddle, until we realize they're posing over a dead body they've found.
Auteur Testimonial Weersethakul, who studied filmmaking in the U.S., says in his director's note: "I realized that through cinema, I could express something that I cannot possibly through other means.'Tropical Malady' is a channel to present my attachment to untouched landscapes and mysteries. It is a memoir of love and darkness."
Awards & Nominations A critical fave at countless international film festivals, this arthouse gem already won a prestigious Cannes Jury Prize in 2004, yet continues to rack up top awards all over the world, including such countries as Belgium, Italy, Japan and Singapore.
Why You Should See It Bold, exotic and challenging, 'Tropical Malady' is an amazingly hypnotic, lushly photographed love story that is truly like no other. It should appeal to fans of the avant-garde, abstract art, or offbeat gay & lesbian cinema.