Memoria
by Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Ever since being startled by a loud ‘bang’ at daybreak, Jessica (Tilda Swinton) is unable to sleep. In Bogotá to visit her sister, she befriends Agnes (Jeanne Balibar), an archaeologist studying human remains discovered within a tunnel under construction. Jessica travels to see Agnes at the excavation site. In a small town nearby, she encounters a fish scaler, Hernan (Elkin Diaz). They share memories by the river. As the day comes to a close, Jessica is awakened to a sense of clarity.
Apichatpong Weerasethakul is recognised as one of the most original voices in contemporary cinema. His previous seven feature films, short films, installations and his recent live performance have won him widespread international recognition and numerous awards, including the Cannes Palme d’Or in 2010 with Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives. His Tropical Malady won the Cannes Competition Jury Prize in 2004 and Blissfully Yours won the Cannes Un Certain Regard Award in 2002. Syndromes and a Century (2006) was recognised as one of the best films of the last decade in several 2010 polls. Mysterious Object at Noon (2000), his first feature, has been restored by Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Foundation.
Born in Bangkok, Apichatpong grew up in Khon Kaen in north-eastern Thailand. He began making films and video shorts in 1994 and completed his first feature in 2000. He has also mounted exhibitions and installations in many countries since 1998 and is now recognised as a major international visual artist. His art prizes include the Sharjah Biennial Prize (2013) the prestigious Yanghyun Art Prize (2014) in South Korea and the Artes Mundi Award (2019). Lyrical and often fascinatingly mysterious, his film works are non-linear, dealing with memory and in subtle ways invoking personal politics and social issues. Working independently of the Thai commercial film industry, he devotes himself to promoting experimental and independent filmmaking through his company Kick the Machine Films, founded in 1999, which also produces all his films. His installations have included the multi-screen project Primitive (2009), acquired for major museum collections (including Tate Modern and Fondation Louis Vuitton, Paris), a major installation for the 2012 Kassel Documenta and most recently the film installations Fireworks (Archive) (2014), Invisibility (2016) and Constellations (2018).
Born in Bangkok, Apichatpong grew up in Khon Kaen in north-eastern Thailand. He began making films and video shorts in 1994 and completed his first feature in 2000. He has also mounted exhibitions and installations in many countries since 1998 and is now recognised as a major international visual artist. His art prizes include the Sharjah Biennial Prize (2013) the prestigious Yanghyun Art Prize (2014) in South Korea and the Artes Mundi Award (2019). Lyrical and often fascinatingly mysterious, his film works are non-linear, dealing with memory and in subtle ways invoking personal politics and social issues. Working independently of the Thai commercial film industry, he devotes himself to promoting experimental and independent filmmaking through his company Kick the Machine Films, founded in 1999, which also produces all his films. His installations have included the multi-screen project Primitive (2009), acquired for major museum collections (including Tate Modern and Fondation Louis Vuitton, Paris), a major installation for the 2012 Kassel Documenta and most recently the film installations Fireworks (Archive) (2014), Invisibility (2016) and Constellations (2018).
In September 2015, the Asian Arts Theatre, based in Gwangju, South Korea, commissioned his first live performance work Fever Room designed to compliment their presentation of Cemetery of Splendour. Since then Fever Room has been successfully presented in Brussels, Berlin, Yokohama, Singapore, Taipei and other international cities and at the Festival d’Automne in France. Memoria is his first feature to be shot outside Thailand and with an international cast.
DIRECTOR'S FILMOGRAPHY:
2021: Memoria
2015: Cemetery of Splendour (Rak Ti Khon Kaen)
2012: Mekong Hotel
2010: Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Lung Boonmee Raluek Chat
2006: Syndromes and a Century (Sang Sattawat)
2004: Tropical Malady (Sud Pralad)
2003: The Adventure of Iron Pussy (Huajai Toranong)
2002: Blissfully Yours (Sud Sanaeha)
2000: Mysterious Object at Noon (Dokfar Nai Meu Marn)
Tilda Swinton: Jessica Holland
Elkin Díaz: older Hernán Bedoya
Jeanne Balibar: Agnes Cerkinsky
Juan Pablo Urrego: young Hernán Bedoya
Daniel Giménez Cacho: Juan Ospina
Agnes Brekke: Karen Holland
Jerónimo Barón: Mateo Ospina
Constanza Guitérrez: Doctor Constanza
Written, directed and produced by: Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Director of Photography: Sayombhu Mukdeeprom
Editor: Lee Chatametikool
Production Designer: Angélica Perea
Costumes: Catherine Rodríguez
Make-up: Adam Zoller Duplan
Sound Design: Akritchalerm Kalayanamitr, Richard Hocks
Sound Supervisor: Javier Umpiérrez
Director Sound: Raúl Locatelli
Original Music: César López
Assistant director, script supervisor: Sompot Chidgasornpongse
Assistant director: Santiago Porras
Original title: Memoria
International title: Memoria
Duration: 136 mn.
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Format: 4K
Sound: 7.1
Year: 2021
Original language: Spanish, English
Countries of production: Colombia, Thailand, France, Germany, Mexico, Qatar
Production Companies: Burning S.A.S., Kick The Machine, Illuminations Films (Past Lives)
With the support of: Fondo Fílmico Colombia, EFICINE 189, CNC, L'aide aux cinemas du monde, Institut Francais, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, Edouard Malingue Gallery , SCAI The Bathhouse, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Hubert Bals Fund of the International Film Festival Rotterdam, Purin Pictures, 100 Tonson Foundation, Estudios Churubusco Azteca
