Tropical Malady

Apichatpong "Joe" Weerasethakul's haunting masterpiece, Tropical Malady, is nearly impossible to describe. An existential love story. A moody, poetic thriller. An exploration of the spirituality of sexual and emotional attraction. The Thai master has pushed himself quickly to the forefront of international cinema by embracing the purest language of cinematic form. He is one of the most expressive, important contemporary directors; his abilities as a master formalist are a large reason for this. Tropical Malady is the latest in Joe's canon and, for me, his best. The oblique romanticism of the film's first half is only enhanced by the brooding spiritualism of the second half. Despite being a relatively new filmmaker, Joe is beyond one to watch...he is one to embrace.

Grade: A+