Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives

Name: Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives
Genre: Fantasy, Comedy
Released: March 4, 2011
Duration: 114 min
Rating: 87

2011

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 21 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 62 Ratings

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 62 Ratings

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Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives

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Movie Details & Credits

Strand Releasing | Release Date: March 4, 2011 | Not Rated

Summary: Suffering from acute kidney failure, Uncle Boonmee has chosen to spend his final days surrounded by his loved ones in the countryside. Surprisingly, the ghost of his deceased wife appears to care for him, and his long lost son returns home in a non-human form. Contemplating the reasons for his illness, Boonmee treks through the jungle withSuffering from acute kidney failure, Uncle Boonmee has chosen to spend his final days surrounded by his loved ones in the countryside. Surprisingly, the ghost of his deceased wife appears to care for him, and his long lost son returns home in a non-human form. Contemplating the reasons for his illness, Boonmee treks through the jungle with his family to a mysterious hilltop cave – the birthplace of his first life… In his signature cinematic style, the acclaimed Thai filmmaker delivers a strange and mystical world of visionary beauty. [Strand Releasing]

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Director: Apichatpong Weerasethakul

Genre(s): Fantasy, Comedy

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 114 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Scott Tobias

Mar 3, 2011

A moving, gently reassuring tale that softens the boundaries between humanity and nature, life and the afterlife. Read full review

100

Keith Uhlich

Feb 28, 2011

What you see and hear always seems perfectly natural, even if you can't exactly say why. Who needs words when you have cinema? Read full review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Mar 2, 2011

Spirit, animal, and human worlds coexist in dreamy harmony in this remarkable drama. Read full review

J. Hoberman

Mar 1, 2011

A work of unostentatious beauty and uncloying sweetness, at once sophisticated and artless, mysterious and matter-of-fact, cosmic and humble, it asks only a measure of Boonmeevian acceptance: The movie doesn't mean anything-it simply is. Read full review

Wesley Morris

Apr 7, 2011

As Apichatpong erases, once again, the barriers between the celestial and terrestrial, he also does away with the cordons between film genres - this is sci-firomancefamilyreligiousthrillercomedyporn. No video service has a section for that. The only suitable shelf is the one in your soul. Read full review

Boxoffice Magazine Richard Mowe

Feb 28, 2011

A whimsical essay about the final days of a villager suffering from kidney failure it is undoubtedly one of the filmmaker's most accessible works. Read full review

David Denby

Mar 23, 2011

I'm more than ready to welcome a new style and a new metaphysic, but I still respond with skepticism and exasperation to Weerasethakul's work, which is sensuous and ruminative but also flat, almost affectless. [28 March 2011, p. 116]

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User Reviews

joomjim4

Jun 18, 2012

Probably the weirdest film I've ever watched but it is because of this unusual weirdness that constructs the most unique and remarkable movie in Thai film's industry. it also shows downfall of Thai morality- how temptations were seen as ordinary compensation. How humans are now living in 2Probably the weirdest film I've ever watched but it is because of this unusual weirdness that constructs the most unique and remarkable movie in Thai film's industry. it also shows downfall of Thai morality- how temptations were seen as ordinary compensation. How humans are now living in 2 totally different world - the world of their own selves and the world that has been built by society which highly provokes the sense of importance of self-notification, nothing is true unless you've experienced with it.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

ThunderWalrus

Jan 2, 2012

These other users don't know what they're talking about. This movie is a cinematic marvel. Every scene feels natural even though many of them are surreal, and it leaves you with a great feeling. It's beautiful.

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

RMckay

Oct 29, 2022

This film gnawed away at my mind for weeks after viewing. I'm a big fan of surrealist film, but when I watched this brilliant feature by "Joe", haha, I was a left wanting more. But then the next morning I woke up and began thinking about it. And I couldn't stop. It's like I needed to sleepThis film gnawed away at my mind for weeks after viewing. I'm a big fan of surrealist film, but when I watched this brilliant feature by "Joe", haha, I was a left wanting more. But then the next morning I woke up and began thinking about it. And I couldn't stop. It's like I needed to sleep on it. I highly recommend this for surrealist fans who don't mind taking their time in digesting it and pondering metaphors etc... But if you're the type of filmgoer that wants everything laid out explained and resolved you are DEFINITELY knocking on the wrong door with this one. As a fan of surreal cinema I gave it a 9. But people who don't like surrealist cinema might likely give it a very low score, as it is a bit of a demanding challenge. Brilliant stuff though, and gorgeously filmed with a silence that slathers the whole thing in peaceful mystery. Very quaintly and candidly filmed with humorous little treats to make you laugh while you're on a wild head-trip on the themes of what comes after death, grief, family, and more. It hits a lot of spots! Fantastic stuff.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

cabrita

Jun 15, 2012

A hypnotic beautiful film that is very simple. In a film like this however I believe simplicity is not what is should be shooting for. Worth the time invested in it though.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

filmtrashreview

Aug 5, 2011

I understand asian culture and how they relate to death and ghosts in a whole other way. However, I just can't get pass this simple fact. How can your dead daughter appear next to you and you not be shocked and then your dead son turn into a monkey and you act as if that isn't a big dealI understand asian culture and how they relate to death and ghosts in a whole other way. However, I just can't get pass this simple fact. How can your dead daughter appear next to you and you not be shocked and then your dead son turn into a monkey and you act as if that isn't a big deal either. What the hell is going on in asia!!!… Expand

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

Light

Mar 17, 2011

My favorite part of this movie came when I needed to go to the bathroom during a sequence when the main characters are walking through a forest. Music is playing, they are walking through the forest saying nothing, and I thought, "This movie is really slow and that diet coke has worked it'sMy favorite part of this movie came when I needed to go to the bathroom during a sequence when the main characters are walking through a forest. Music is playing, they are walking through the forest saying nothing, and I thought, "This movie is really slow and that diet coke has worked it's way to my bladder - time to go." So I went to the bathroom, checked my e-mail, listened to my phone messages, then walked back in to the theatre. They were still walking. I'm not kidding. Now, I'm a fan of Buddhism, I've been to Thailand...but this movie bored me to pieces. It has ten minutes of interesting spiritual/conceptual stuff, stuck in a loooong, sloooow, movie. Pretentious people will love this movie, because it will make them feel smart for liking it. Smart people will rent the dvd and watch it at ten times speed.… Expand

6 of 13 users found this helpful67

konk

May 6, 2011

I have nothing against well made philosophical movies, but this is similar to some of the so called modern art pieces, like a shoe nailed on the wall, in front of which some snobbish â

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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