A Useful Ghost Wins Cannes Critics' Week Grand Prize

Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke's debut film, "A Useful Ghost," secured the Critics' Week Grand Prize at Cannes last year. This supernatural black comedy delves into themes of national grief in Thailand, personified by spirits that refuse to move on following a series of national catastrophes. The film masterfully blends elements of fantasy and dark humor to explore the lingering impact of events such as the 2010 military crackdown, the 2006 and 2014 coup d'états, and the 1976 Thammasat University demonstrations.

The narrative centers on an unquiet spirit that inhabits a vacuum cleaner, a premise that takes a turn when political interests become involved. Boonbunchachoke, a 39-year-old Thai filmmaker, has crafted a work described as stylish and exhilaratingly confident. The film's visual composition is elegant, featuring dreamlike tableaux that are crisply edited, creating an effect that is simultaneously disquieting, erotic, and deeply sad.

"A Useful Ghost" draws comparisons to the works of renowned Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul, specifically his films "Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives" and "Cemetery of Splendour," in its exploration of spiritual realities. Additionally, the film's spectral atmosphere has been likened to Western films such as "Ghost" and "Truly, Madly, Deeply." The movie's unique approach to national trauma through a supernatural lens has garnered significant critical attention, positioning it as a notable entry in contemporary cinema.