Mekong Hotel

 

Written, directed, shot, and edited by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Mekong Hotel is an experimental film where a filmmaker is shooting a vampire movie on a hotel along the Mekong River. The film is a mixture of fiction and documentary as it explores a filmmaker trying to create this vampire movie involving a mother and daughter. Starring Jenjira Pongpas, Maiyatan Techaparn, Sakda Kaewbuadee, and Chai Bhatana. Mekong Hotel is an intoxicating and somber film from Apichatpong Weerasethakul.

Set in a hotel that is based alongside the Mekong River in Thailand, the film revolves around a filmmaker trying to create a vampire movie while the small group of people at the hotel deal with possibly possessed by ghosts who would eat human internal organs. It is a film that doesn’t have much of a plot nor a strong premise yet it does play into people just trying to figure out what to do at this hotel as they look at their surroundings including the river itself. At the same time, there’s a mother/daughter duo who are both dealing the presence of a ghost as they would sometimes come out of this possession wondering what is happening as it blurs the line between reality and fiction. Notably as Apichatpong Weerasethakul doesn’t aim for something structured in favor of improvisation that allows a looseness into the story.

Weerasethakul’s direction is entrancing as it is shot on an actual hotel set alongside the Mekong River as both the hotel and the river itself are major characters in the film. While the film doesn’t have any close-ups, Weerasethakul’s usage of wide and medium static shots does maintain a sense of visual intrigue while there are moments where the fourth wall is broken where Weerasethakul talks to the film’s composer Chai Bhatana to perform music on an acoustic guitar as it would accompany the film throughout while Bhatana would only appear onscreen a few times. Serving as both the film’s cinematographer and editor, Weerasethakul would never move the camera throughout the film’s 58-minute running time as it would also include a lot of long shots where the camera gazes at the actors looking at or reacting to something that is happening.

Especially in scenes where someone would be eating internal organs and then wake up wondering what had just happened. Weerasethakul would emphasis on natural lighting as much of the film is shot in the day while he allows shows to gaze for a few minutes before emphasizing on straightforward cutting to move to the next shot. Especially as the film’s final shot is gazed upon the river as it showcases a world that is uninterrupted despite changing times and the specter of death. Overall, Weerasethakul creates a riveting and evocative film about a filmmaker trying to make a vampire movie on a hotel set alongside the Mekong River.

Sound mixer Richard Hocks does brilliant work with the sound in capturing many of the natural elements on location as well as the usage of voice effects for the scenes involving the ghosts. Music by Chai Bhatana is incredible for its plaintive acoustic guitar score that is filled with unique themes and melodies that help play into the drama. The film’s wonderful ensemble cast features notable small roles from Bhatana as the composer who plays on location as well as Apichatpong Weerasethakul as the director trying to make this vampire movie on a hotel. Sakda Kaewbuadee is excellent as an actor who is trying to understand what they’re planning to do while he would have a moment where he gets possessed. Jenjira Pongpas and Maiyatan Techaparn are incredible in their respective roles as the mother and daughter duo who deal with ghosts as well as other things as well as their surroundings with the former troubled by ghosts while the latter is pondering its existence.

Mekong Hotel is a sensational film from Apichatpong Weerasethakul. While it doesn’t have much of a plot, the film does manage to have gorgeous visuals as well as a premise that blurs the line of fiction and reality. Notably as it is set on real locations while playing into the idea of ghosts and death. In the end, Mekong Hotel is an incredible film from Apichatpong Weerasethakul.

Apichatpong Weerasethakul Films: Mysterious Object at Noon - (Blissfully Yours) – (The Adventure of Iron Pussy) – (Tropical Malady) – (Syndromes and a Century) – Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives - (Cemetery of Splendor) – (Ten Years Thailand) – (Memoria) – (The Year of the Everlasting Storm-Night Colonies)

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