International House Philadelphia: Program Guide Fall 2013 | Page 13

Mekong Hotel Thursday, October 10 at 7pm FULL EXPOSURE Mekong Hotel
dir. Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Thailand/UK, 2012, 35mm, Thai with English subtitles, 61 min.

preceded by The Anthem
dir. Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Thailand/UK, 2006, digital, Thai with English subtitles, 6 min.

Mekong Hotel is a self-reflexive portrait of a hotel near the Mekong River in Thailand. In the bedrooms and terraces, director Apichatpong Weerasethakul (Tropical Malady, Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives) holds a rehearsal with his crew for a movie he wrote years ago entitled Ecstasy Garden. The film blends fact and fiction, expressing the bonds between a vampirelike mother and her daughter, the young lovers and the river, while exploring themes of recollection, politics, Thai folklore, and the modern world’s undeniable connection to its spiritual roots.

The Anthem is a celebration of filmmaking and the viewing experience. In Thailand, before every cinema film screening, there will be a Royal Anthem before the feature presentation. The purpose is to honor the King. It is one of the rituals imbedded in Thai society to give a blessing to something or someone before certain ceremonies. The Anthem presents a ‘Cinema Anthem’ that praises and blesses the approaching feature for each screening. This audio-visual purification process is performed by three old ladies. They also channel energy to the audience in order to give them a clear mind. 12