Cemetery of Splendor (2015)

A group of soldiers in a small town on the Mekong River in northern Thailand are struck with a bizarre sleeping illness.

Director:

Apichatpong Weerasethakul

Writer:

Apichatpong Weerasethakul

Stars:

Jenjira Pongpas, Banlop Lomnoi, Jarinpattra Rueangram

7 wins & 17 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jenjira Pongpas	...	Jenjira (as Jenjira Pongpas Widner)
Banlop Lomnoi	...	Itt
Jarinpattra Rueangram	...	Keng
Petcharat Chaiburi	...	Nurse Tet
Tawatchai Buawat	...	The Mediator
Sujittraporn Wongsrikeaw	...	Goddess 1
Bhattaratorn Senkraigul	...	Goddess 2
Sakda Kaewbuadee	...	Teng
Pongsadhorn Lertsukon	...	Library's Director
Sasipim Piwansenee	...	Cream Hostess
Apinya Unphanlam	...	Singing Woman
Richard Abramson	...	Richard Widner
Kammanit Sansuklerd	...	Parasite Doctor
Boonyarak Bodlakorn	...	Dr. Prasan
Wacharee Nagvichien	...	Soldier's Wife

Storyline

Soldiers with a mysterious sleeping sickness are transferred to a temporary clinic in a former school. The memory-filled space becomes a revelatory world for housewife and volunteer Jenjira, as she watches over Itt, a handsome soldier with no family visitors. Jen befriends young medium Keng who uses her psychic powers to help loved ones communicate with the comatose men. Doctors explore ways, including colored light therapy, to ease the mens' troubled dreams. Jen discovers Itt's cryptic notebook of strange writings and blueprint sketches. There may be a connection between the soldiers' enigmatic syndrome and the mythic ancient site that lies beneath the clinic. Magic, healing, romance and dreams are all part of Jen's tender path to a deeper awareness of herself and the world around her.

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Plot Keywords:

soldier | sleeping | thailand | notebook | medium | 

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

Thailand UK Germany France Malaysia South Korea Mexico USA Norway

Language:

Thai English

Release Date:

2 September 2015 (France)

Also Known As:

Cemetery of Splendor

Filming Locations:

Khon Khaen, Thailand

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,780, 6 March 2016

Gross USA:

$51,950

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$98,932

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kick the Machine, Anna Sanders Films, Match Factory Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Surround 7.1

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Itt and Jenjira are eating dinner in the city, several bystanders are seen looking and pointing at the crew.

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Quotes

Sign Post: Hunger for Heaven will lead you to Hell

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Connections

Features Mae Bia (2015)

User Reviews

Hypnotizing and fixating

Without having known before, 20 minutes into the film I guessed that it was from the same director of Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives. Weirdly, I didn't take to that film much. I appreciated it greatly, and I did get more out of it on my second viewing of it, but it still left me feeling very distant. I found this much more fixating and engrossing, even if the pace does get to me at times. It's amazingly directed and I think that carries it a long way, but it also benefited from being more grounded on a simple thematic level than Boonmee. Not for everyone, but definitely a film to watch out for. Not recommended for everyone, just for those who know exactly what they're getting into.