Syndromes and a Century (2007)
85%RT Audience Score: 77%
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 13 nominations
Syndromes and a Century is a film that defies categorization, much like the enigmatic director Apichatpong Weerasethakul himself. It is a work of art that transcends the boundaries of traditional cinema, evoking a dreamlike state that is both profound and playful. Weerasethakul’s mastery of the medium is on full display here, as he weaves together a series of vignettes that are at once mysterious, erotic, and funny. This is a film that rewards patience and contemplation, and one that will leave you with a warm and happy feeling long after the credits have rolled. In short, Syndromes and a Century is a masterpiece of Rorschach cinema, and a must-see for anyone who values the power of the moving image to transport us to other worlds.
If you’re looking for a movie with a clear plot and character development, Syndromes and a Century is not for you. But if you’re in the mood for a mystical, enigmatic, and utterly distinctive cinematic experience, then buckle up and get ready for a ride. This Thai film is like a series of paintings that talk to each other, leaving you with a warm and happy feeling, a bit like a Buddhist aura. It’s not for everyone, but for those who appreciate the yin and yang of life, it’s a must-see. Just don’t expect anything to happen, twice.
Production Company(ies)
Studio Chizu Book Walker Dentsu
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Lumphini Botanical Park, Bangkok, Thailand
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2007
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.78 : 1
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):Thai
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Jan 15, 2008
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Syndromes and a Century, Drama, Thai, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, written by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, starring Nantarat Sawaddikul, Arkanae Cherkam, Jaruchai Iamaram, Sakda Kaewbuadee, Wanna Wattanajinda, Sin Kaewpakpin, box office gross $16.3K, MPAA rating, reviewed by Ben Kenigsberg, Sukhdev Sandhu, Nigel Andrews, Peter Bradshaw, Stella Papamichael, David Parkinson, Mattie Lucas, Dennis Schwartz, Bill Weber, Philip French, Tom Charity, Anton Bitel, drama, poignant, mesmerizing, memoir, Buddhist, warm, wistful, mystical, enigmatic, fresh, alive, paintings, yin and yang, Rorschach cinema, Thai director, installation-artist, Kiarostami, Haneke, warm and happy feeling, isolated clinic, Thailand, urban setting, alcoholic doctor, dentist, country singer, female doctor, poignant, mesmerizing
Worldwide gross: $70,649
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $101,209
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,026
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 11,037
US/Canada gross: $16,675
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $23,888
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,796
US/Canada opening weekend: $5,518
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $7,905
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,747
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Arkanae Cherkam – Dr. Ple
Jaruchai Iamaram – Dr. Nohng
Sakda Kaewbuadee – Dr. Nohng’s Father
Wanna Wattanajinda – Dr. Wan
Sin Kaewpakpin – Nurse
Director(s)
Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Writer(s)
Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 13 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (44) | Top Critics (22) | Fresh (39) | Rotten (5)
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 5/5
Ben Kenigsberg
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Don’t watch it for plot, or character development; revel instead in its evocation of warm, wistful moods, its sly sense of humour and its fierce commitment to creating a mystical cinema far from the orthodoxies of both independent and mainstream cinema.
September 21, 2007
Sukhdev Sandhu
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Don’t think of it as film. Think of it as a series of paintings that talk to each other, raptly and quietly.
September 21, 2007
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
Profoundly mysterious, erotic, funny, gentle, playful, utterly distinctive, it is the work of the Thai director and installation-artist Apichatpong Weerasethakul, who now has a claim to be approaching the league of Kiarostami and Haneke.
September 21, 2007 | Rating: 5/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
This portrait of life is all about the yin and the yang, so it follows that for everyone who finds it dull there are those who will be captivated.
September 21, 2007 | Rating: 3/5
Stella Papamichael
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
Knowingly enigmatic, but more accessible than the director’s previous works.
September 21, 2007 | Rating: 3/5
David Parkinson
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
A fleeting shadow, an elusive memory fading as the mind slips into sleep, a long lost lover reborn in a dream.
July 6, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
The pic has a Buddhist aura surrounding it, leaving a warm and happy feeling with the viewer.
February 7, 2008 | Rating: A
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
A quieter, shorter but scarcely less idiosyncratic specimen of Rorschach cinema than Inland Empire.
December 1, 2007 | Rating: B
Bill Weber
Stylus Magazine
As Ken Tynan said of Waiting for Godot, nothing happens, twice.
September 29, 2007
Philip French
Observer (UK)
This curio sometimes bemuses, but it’s utterly fresh and alive.
September 21, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Tom Charity
Total Film
As delicate, complex and strange as any rare orchid, and as unlikely to appeal to mainstream tastes, Syndromes And A Century more than delivers on the enigma promised by its bifurcated title.
September 13, 2007 | Rating: 3/5
Anton Bitel
Film4…
Plot
Syndromes and a Century follows Dr. Nohng as he joins a small clinic in Thailand and later moves to a more urban setting, exploring themes of love, memory, and identity through its evocative and mystical storytelling.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t provide any goofy or funny comments about Syndromes and a Century, but they do mention the cast, which includes Nantarat Sawaddikul, Arkanae Cherkam, Jaruchai Iamaram, Sakda Kaewbuadee, Wanna Wattanajinda, and Sin Kaewpakpin.
Apichatpong-Weerasethakul.jpg
