Blissfully Yours [DVD]

I had not seen any of this director's work before, and I approached this film with a frisson of mixed expectations: was it going to be sensual, mysterious, spiritually uplifting? It was none of those, at least initially. Instead, it seemed to be the simplest of stories told in the simplest of terms, and at a certain point even the story begins to disappear and moments begin to hang there, almost timelessly, and almost independently of each other. The film then takes on the quality of a complex tapestry of unconnected, yet strangely connected, moments, and every thing falls asleep - a symphony of almost unbearable tenderness ends on a whisper. My predominant emotion while watching this film was reverence; I found myself watching almost breathlessly as the camera lovingly explored its simple objects, whether these were flies on food, sun filtered through the leaves of a forest or a woman crying. There are a few shots when people's faces were filmed while they were lying down, and I found myself resisting the urge to turn my head sideways to see what the expression on the faces were, finding that I wanted to rather go with the director's view and accept things the way he chose to present them. That trust was amply rewarded, and this film has now stayed with me for weeks, flashing into my mind from time to time, and giving me courage to explore the world in the way Weerasethakul does in this astonishing film. As you can see, this film has the power to change one's entire conception of the world we live in. I am sorry that my review is so subjective, but I don't know how else this film can be approached.It is indeed sensual, mysterious and spiritually uplifting, but it is above all a visionary exploration of the everyday world that lets the mundane speak in its most intimate and revealing terms. So be prepared to have your heart broken, not with sadness but with the love of the ordinary.

4.5/5 amazing

Lovely views of the countryside for those who've been and perhaps those that haven't.Unfortunately a naptime movie in my estimation.

Image quality is VHS-like. I guess that was the only available source.

Totally mesmerising and utterly, utterly beautiful this incredible film from Thailand is so alive you can almost feel the heat and the smell of the jungle seeping from the tv set!In terms of narrative, little happens - a group of friends take an afternoon picnic in the Thai jungle - but as a work of pure cinema it's utterly beguiling and amost heart-stoppingly beautiful. I know people say this alot - but it really is like nothing you've seen before. Wonderful.

An astonishingly sensual, sexual movie. Like all of Weerasethakul's movies its definately not for everyone. You need to let the movie wash over you. The nearest thing I can compare it to is 'Walkabout'. if you're a fan of that movie I'd seriously think about giving this a go. Another solid Second Run DVD too.