Apichatpong Weerasethakul

Critically examines the work, politics and aesthetic philosophy of Apichatpong Weerasethakul

• A comprehensive study of the major screen works of Apichatpong Weerasethakul, one of the most influential and original filmmakers in the world
• Shot-by-shot analysis of his feature films and major works, tracing their stylistic transformation over time
• A detailed investigation of Apichatpong’s place within film history, tracing his creative influences alongside his influence on the work of other filmmakers
• An in-depth exploration of Apichatpong’s aesthetic philosophy, drawing upon original archival research and analysis of Apichatpong’s artist statements and interviews

For over twenty years, director Apichatpong Weerasethakul has received international acclaim for the sensuous pacing, folkloric narratives and creative resistance to authoritarian politics buried within an expansive body of work. Situated on the fault line of narrative filmmaking and contemporary art, his work flickers between obscurity and critique, leaning into the ambiguities of contemplative art cinema to challenge political orders, resurface repressed national memories and even reimagine the structure of cinema itself.

Apichatpong Weerasethakul: Contemplation and Resistance is a major study of the screen works of one of contemporary cinema’s most influential directors. Through deconstruction of his major works placed in cultural, historical and political context, Contemplation and Resistance chronicles the creative and political interventions of one of the most influential political filmmakers of the twenty-first century.