Tropical Malady

Name: Tropical Malady
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Released: June 29, 2005
Duration: 118 min
Rating: 81

2005

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 17 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 24 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 24 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Strand Releasing | Release Date: June 29, 2005 | Not Rated

Summary: This lyrical and mysterious new film by maverick Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethaku chronicles the mystical love affair between a young soldier and the country boy he seduces, soon to be disrupted by the boy's sudden disappearance. [Strand Releasing]

Director: Apichatpong Weerasethakul

Genre(s): Drama, Fantasy, Romance

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 118 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Deborah Young

Takes the viewer on a mysterious and sporadically fascinating trip into the darkness of the human heart and Thai legend. Read full review

100

G. Allen Johnson

An entirely unconventional, hypnotic, meandering film. Read full review

Patrick Z. McGavin

A spellbinding, beautiful, enigmatic film with a mysterious, allusive two-part structure. Read full review

Kevin Thomas

Mysterious and original. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

Shows a young filmmaker pushing at the limits of cinematic narrative with grace and a certain amount of puckish willfulness. Read full review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

It took me two viewings to enjoy the landscape of Weerasethakul's mysterious jungle -- so very thick, steamy, and foreign -- without wishing for clearer trail markers. Read full review

Kirk Honeycutt

Certainly for most audiences the viewing experience will prove not only tedious but bewildering. Read full review

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User Reviews

VinceH.

Aug 30, 2005

To paraphrase David B., this is truly a "bending experience" in every sense of the word. From the mysterious and glazy opening scenes of soldiers and families in a rural farm eating, to the languid would-be love affair that constitutes the first half of the film are both perfect. The To paraphrase David B., this is truly a "bending experience" in every sense of the word. From the mysterious and glazy opening scenes of soldiers and families in a rural farm eating, to the languid would-be love affair that constitutes the first half of the film are both perfect. The opening credits coming in about 30 minutes in, the gorgeous use of Thai pop music that Weerasethakul uses so lyrically, the amateurish acting and dialogue. It is all just magic. There is no way to describe it. None of this even comes close to the experience of the last 45-50 minutes of the film or so, when Keng explores the vast jungle searching for a ghost-tiger. This is easily the most pure and beautiful cinema I have seen in the theaters since "Spirited Away". The use of natural sound and the dark and disquieting texture that Weerasethakul creates is just mindboggling. As Dennis Lim says, it "promotes new ways of seeing". This is the kind of film that when you walk outside after, EVERYTHING will look different. There are really no words I can think of to describe the evocative state-of-mind and euphoria that this part of the movie put into me. I wanted to sit and watch it all over again, but unfortunately I caught the last screening in my town. IT comes to this: you need to see this film. Your life will be better for it (and no, that is not an overstatement).… Expand

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roberth.

Aug 24, 2005

After reading all the glowing reviews this movie received it turns out to be a major disappointment. the first half of the movie while sloppily put together is still engaging. the allegory half is so unoriginal it's irritating. while the photography is professional the narrative is After reading all the glowing reviews this movie received it turns out to be a major disappointment. the first half of the movie while sloppily put together is still engaging. the allegory half is so unoriginal it's irritating. while the photography is professional the narrative is strictly student film project and again very thoughtlessly put together. very forgettable.… Expand

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ChadS.

Aug 24, 2005

The structure of "Tropical Malady" bares a passing resemblance to John Sayles' "Limbo". The first half takes place in a community, and in the second half, the action shifts to a desolate location, void of people. This is the nicest thing I can say about this very, very, very demanding The structure of "Tropical Malady" bares a passing resemblance to John Sayles' "Limbo". The first half takes place in a community, and in the second half, the action shifts to a desolate location, void of people. This is the nicest thing I can say about this very, very, very demanding movie. The enchanted action in Apichatpong Weerasethakul's forest has its visually arresting moments, but it's too little, too late, after long periods of a static camera being pointed at a darkly lit soldier. The ghostly imagery of forest creatures is the creative domain of Hayao Miyazaki, who applies it to admirable pop culture entertainments like "Princess Mononoke" and "Spirited Away". The second half of "Tropical Malady" has the unintended effect of being like a Miyazaki film for adults.… Expand

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