Free Apichatpong in Toronto

The package of short films by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, which was recently shown at the Anthology Film Archives in New York City, and had people lined up around the block, has moved on to Toronto, where the shorts will be screened over two nights on February 27 and 28 by the Cinematheque Ontario at Jackman Hall.

The screenings will be free. For Torontonians, this is a rare chance to see the collected short works of the acclaimed Thai director who is more simply known as Joe. The works range from his earliest works in the 1990s to a brand-new Canadian premiere.

Both programs will start with Anthem, his "audio-visual purification service". Featuring some techno music on a CD that his been blessed by a Buddhist monk, introduced by some of Apichatpong's ubiquitous "aunties" and culminating in a three-ring circus-like atmosphere of activity, Anthem is meant to be shown before all film screenings, similar to the function of Thailand's Royal Anthem, which is played ahead of all films, concerts and other public functions in Thailand. The 5-minute short was made in 2006.

Program 1 consists of his work from the 1990s, including the 30-minute
Like the Relentless Fury of the Pounding Waves from 1995. Others are Windows, Malee and the Boy, and Thirdworld.

Program 2 is more recent works, with the exception of 1994's 116643225059. There's Ghost of Asia, which was commissioned for the Thailand Office of Contemporary Art and Culture's Tsunami Digital Short Films in 2005; My Mother's Garden from 2007; Worldly Desires, which was one of the Digital Short Films by Three Directors for the 2005 Jeonju International Film Festival; and Emerald, a brand-new work that makes its Canadian premiere.

More information:

• Joe, Take Two (Tisch Film Review)

(Via The Star)