Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives
Films that shaped it
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I watched Dekalog for the first time in 2005, and it really struck me. I’m interested in similar themes, though not from a religious standpoint. I’m fascinated by what people believe, how they create their own rules and codes of behaviour to live by. I relate to Dekalog because I have my own rules and codes for life and filmmaking. My films often feature characters whose actions don’t quite conform to their society’s moral code, just like the people in Dekalog.
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I love Antonioni... films like L’Avventura and L’Eclisse are beautiful in the way they look at people’s psychology. These films are very slow, not a lot of action, but intense. I think this influenced me a lot, to slow down and create spaces for contemplation.
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For “Uncle Boonmee,” I really wanted to experiment with how loose the narrative could be. It was also an experiment in duration, this idea of letting time go by, to have people live with the characters, to share the silence. I have been really influenced by films like Jacques Rivette’s “Out 1” and some of Andy Warhol’s films, which just observe for a long period.
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Tarkovsky is always an inspiration. The Mirror is very personal. I enjoy its structure, its non-linear narrative, the way it uses voiceover, and the very specific feeling it creates. It’s hard to watch but it’s very beautiful.
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Tarkovsky's 'Stalker' is like a pilgrimage. It's about finding meaning in the journey, and the land itself feels alive. I try to bring that sense of mystery and living landscape into my films, like 'Uncle Boonmee'.
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He's very strong, Herzog. I especially like Aguirre and Fitzcarraldo because he blends this documentary style with dreams, and this is what I am always interested in.
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I remember watching A City of Sadness when I was studying film in Chicago. It really opened my eyes. Such a beautiful and complex film. It confirmed for me that cinema could go beyond the narrative, that it could be a journey and an experience. Hou Hsiao-Hsien is one of my heroes. His films really affected my way of seeing and my way of making films.
