Uncle Boonmee is a journey into the Thai subconscious, where prehistoric jungles are inhabited with the artifacts of samsara and the mystical destiny; it is a transfixed wading into the pool of spirits, new beings, and karmic occurrences in a lush natural setting where such things roam freely. The camera plays it like a fuzzy memory, with grainy image and sunbleached color, making the details indescript but the tone undeniable, and the atmosphere more suitable for the magic. Still-frames dominate once again; each frame is like a hypnotic stare, into which the magic slowly creeps.
This film is subtle and intense, frightening in some way but remarkably calming in another. I prefer it to Cemetery of Splendour because of its isolated setting, the power of its imagery, its ancient heart. Many of the themes and techniques are shared, but Uncle Boonmee has a greater power to its visual poetry than can be seen in most films. Again: this film is deep and authentic.
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