Syndromes and a Century

Syndromes and a Century, directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, is a nostalgically poetic and metaphysical exploration of intimate moments, memories, and personal anecdotes. Released in 2006, the film stars accomplished Thai actors and actresses including Nantarat Sawaddikul, Jaruchai Iamaram, and Sophon Pukanok.

The film follows a non-linear artistic style that renders it more of an impressionist cinematic poem than a traditional, narrative-flow film. Instead of prioritizing a clear-cut plot or character development, Syndromes and a Century is an assembly of beautifully orchestrated moments that shed light on how the mind constructs and recounts memories.

The film unfolds in two parts with mirrored yet contrasted scenes reflecting the urban and rural settings. Its inspiration arose from the lives of Weerasethakul’s parents, who were both medical doctors, even before they met each other. Gravity is given to the execution of an intricate, enigmatic picture of their lives and work. It explores the humanistic aspects of their medical profession through fetish-like moments of experiences, reminiscences, and dreams.

In the first half of the film, we follow Doctor Toey (Nantarat Sawaddikul) through a softly lit, serene, and rural hospital in the countryside. The tranquillity quietly seeps through the distinct aesthetics of this hospital, defined by wall-less spaces and fringed by verdant greenery that reflects the synergy between the medical institution and nature. We become witnesses to the frictions between modernity and tradition, as the doctor interacts with various patients, presenting a captivating portrayal of rural healing practices.

The second half of the film thrusts us into the starkly contrasting world of an urban city hospital. It's portrayed in a relatively more sterile way, with its windowless rooms, artificial light, and the dominance of technological medical equipment. However, don’t expect an explicit commentary on these divergent worlds. The movie gently invites contemplation, allowing viewers to etch their interpretations on this aesthetically intuitive canvas.

Throughout the two mirrored halves, we are treated to a series of perfectly drawn vignettes, each capturing the essence of detailed character studies rather than a concrete story. The characters' interpersonal relationships are painted with sophisticated simplicity, often decorated with an artist's brush that blends mundane reality and surreal dreamscapes in a seamless continuum.

It's intriguing to see a range of fascinating secondary characters, like a monk who wants to become a DJ and a female orchid farmer who vents her feelings to the doctor, believing she's been infected with a 'syndrome' due to an unrequited love. These characters don't seem to be instrumental for the ‘plot' in a traditional sense but contribute an extraordinarily rich texture to the film's ambience.

Furthermore, the camera work in Syndromes and a Century is breathtakingly beautiful, elegantly sweeping through each scene to reveal hidden corners and silent moments of profound resonance. Instead of the rush of action or a surge of dramatic dialogue, this film is marked by silence and contemplation: softer, quieter moments of introspection that reverberate through each scene.

Weerasethakul's Syndromes and a Century is not a film where you sit back and receive information and entertainment but one that invites you to think, ponder and connect. It's a film that doesn't serve you a prepared dish but instead a recipe, with ingredients scattered across the narrative that the viewer must string together.

A work of astounding cinematic sensibility and skill, it is bound to leave viewers in silent meditation, as it blurs the line between concrete reality and dreamlike reminiscence. The scenarios, characters, and settings are compiled subtly, leaving room for personal interpretation.

Syndromes and a Century is a composition that resonates with Weerasethakul's commitment to depict the human spirit's complexities. The film stands as a profound testament to the said director's manipulative skills that tease, provoke and surprise at the same time, offering truly unforgettable movie-going experiences.