Invisible Waves (2006)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Pen-Ek Ratanaruang

Writer:

Prabda Yoon (writer)

Release Date:

2 March 2006 (Thailand)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Plot:

After inadvertently killing his girlfriend, a man (Asano) flees Macau for Thailand in an attempt to cope with his guilt, and avoid possible arrest. But the relocation doesn't prevent his problems from following him, as his new friends could be potential enemies.

Plot Keywords:

Guilt | Female To Male Foot In Crotch | Footsie Under The Table | Nude Woman Murdered | Loss Of Girlfriend

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Tadanobu Asano	...	Kyoji
Hye-jeong Kang	...	Noi
Eric Tsang	...	Monk
Maria Cordero	...	Maria
Toon Hiranyasap	...	Wiwat
Ken Mitsuishi	...	Lizard
Hideki Jitsuyama	...	Kyoji's Father
Tomono Kuga	...	Seiko
Hiro Sano	...	Hideki
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Vant Banditnopparat	...	Colleague 2
Chatchaj Bunditwetchakorn	...	Taxi Driver
Lei Ju Fong	...	Maria's compund staff
Woon Ling Hau	...	Old Lady
Nukun Hongthong	...	Thai Thug 1
Vararuk Kumprom	...	Man
Prompop Lee	...	Universal Cruise staff
Wong Chen Man	...	Maria's compund staff
Thiti Michelli	...	Kanchil
Yasuhiko Miyachi	...	Colleague 1
Auttharco Patthanodom	...	Bartender
Thanee Poonsuwan	...	Technician
Dhiranan Sukwibul	...	Wilai
Sorayis Tungomesakul	...	Nid
Fung Tse Wa	...	Young Monk
Cheung Jat Wai	...	Maria's compound staff
Pakawat Wisesmanee	...	Thai Thug 2
Suree Ch. Wiwat	...	Old Woman

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

Netherlands | Thailand | Hong Kong | South Korea

Language:

Thai | English | Japanese | Korean

Color:

Color

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Malaysia:U | Australia:M (2007) | Australia:M (2006) | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Bangkok, Thailand

Company:

Dedicate Ltd.

Trivia:

Opening film for 2006 Bangkok International Film Festival.

Quotes:

Kyoji: Are you really a monk?
Monk: My father was.

Movie Connections:

References The Shining (1980)

cinematography is flawless, visually stunning, slow paced, artsy, so definitely worth seeing

I rented this movie at our local library, mainly because of Asano Tadanobu. (One of my favorite Asian actors because he fits in any role, and he's good looking.)

This movie is very artsy, the kind of movie you don't find in the videostore around the corner. Which is kinda sad, because this movie really deserves to be seen. It's more of a visual experience than a movie, I think. The photography is so beautifully done, that it's almost superior to the story and the characters. (Which I like because I study photography :) I will definitely add Christopher Doyle to my favorite cinematographers list.

I haven't seen such a moving (as in: kinda sad) slow paced movie since David Lynch' The Straight Story. You just have to sit back and relax. Turn off your cell phone, dim the lights, so you're not disturbed in any way. Now you're able to follow the characters through abandoned towns, a mysterious ship and in the end, the world of the criminals. This movie really does something to your state of mind. Mine got filled with melancholy. And it's all because of the camera. This sort of cinematography is totally not Hollywood, and maybe that's why (in my opinion) Asian movies are sometimes better in quality. (OldBoy, Infernal Affairs, Hero, to name a few.)

I've read negative comments on the message boards, and I just don't get it why people don't like this movie. If you're used to teenage horror movies, then I sure do understand. But any serious movie lover should see this, because this movie has that little touch that I miss often when seeing movies. This one has humor, sadness, all the elements that make a movie great. It just doesn't have the usual pace. Let's just say it's the complete opposite of Fox' "24". But that's not a reason to bash it. This was done on purpose and for this movie and it's theme and the main character that we follow throughout the movie, it works perfectly. It deserves a 10 because in it's way it's refreshing, and I hope to see more of these in the future.