Last Life in the Universe

Last week I saw the most recent film by Thai filmmaker Pen-ek Ratanaruang, Last Life in the Universe. Beautiful, textured, intentionally evasive, but worth every frame (well duh, every frame is shot by Christopher Doyle). The production design is almost too good to be true (kind of disturbingly retro-photo-trendy). Also the ladies (like me) will like it because it stars actor, singer, artist, director, and god-among-men Asano Tadanobu. Anyhow. I've been interested in Thai cinema for the past few years, and even applied for a Fulbright Grant last year to research with the Thai Film Foundation in Nakornpathom (I didn't end up getting it). Last Life in the Universe just shows again how exciting the Thai film scene is right now. I'm hoping to go to Thailand for lunar new year break... maybe I can stalk some of these directors then.
Watch a (French) trailer here.