By The Time It Gets Dark

By The Time It Gets Dark, a film released in 2016, directed and artfully woven by Anocha Suwichakornpong, is a profound meditation on memory, the transcendence of cinema, and the unending cycle of life. The Thailand-based film welcomes actors Visra Vichit-Vadakan, Arak Amornsupasiri, and Achtara Suwan, with each of them leaving an indelible impact on their respective character roles.

The film's plot proves to be a richly layered and thought-provoking narrative. It begins with an interaction between two women in a lushly picturesque setting that would seemingly represent a retreat from the complexities of city life. The main character, a youthful movie director - played with compelling subtlety by Visra Vichit-Vadakan, is in this secluded location to work on her new project. This project involves documenting the life of Taew - effortlessly portrayed by Rassami Paoluengtong. Taew is a political activist who survived the infamous student massacre in Thailand in 1976, a socio-political context that informs the film's theme and atmosphere.

As these characters grapple with their past and day-to-day challenges, their narratives start to expand, fragment, and metamorphose in unexpected ways. This multifaceted storytelling approach reflects onto the character of Peter (Arak Amornsupasiri), a man who fluctuates between being a factory worker, a male model, a waiter, and a monk. His dreamlike surges through life and occupation mirror the film's morphing narrative. Another character, Ann (Achtara Suwan), emerges as a representative of melancholic urban life, burdened with material anxieties yet dancing through every scene with infectious energy.

By The Time It Gets Dark, though rooted in historical events, does not confine itself to recounting history. Instead, it shoulder the question of how we capture and convey history, and the role that media, notably film, plays in this. The director explores these themes by jumping between genres, colors, and formats, reminiscent of nouvelle vague experimentalism. The film lovingly nods to this French New Wave while also honoring the beauty of the Thai landscape and its ancient culture.

Although the narrative is nonlinear, Suwichakornpong weaves the central themes of time, memory, and human psyche throughout, expertly switching between different perspectives and timescales without losing the audience's engagement. The director applies an eccentric yet captivating narrative technique that similarly defines reality as fluid, refusing to be tied down to a single perspective or linear passage of time.

Vichit-Vadakan, Amornsupasiri, and Suwan deliver captivating performances that navigate the film's complex themes and structural dynamics. Their ability to embody the essence of their characters and convincingly inhabit the film’s atmospheric tone is one of its key storytelling strengths. The interactions between the characters create profound discussions about memory, personal experience, and the limitations of film to capture and preserve these realities.

The film showcases the encapsulating work of the cinematographer, Ming Kai Leung, who takes the shifting narratives a notch higher with the visual splendor of rural and urban Thailand. At times, the movie feels like a visual poem, with breathtaking shots of nature testifying eloities the power of image and sensation.

Lending an undeniable auditory beauty to complement the film's visual grandeur is the captivating score by the composer, Wuttipong Leetrakul. The film's sound design is an immersive musical experience that articulates the unspoken emotions, moods, and thoughts within the narrative fabric.

By The Time It Gets Dark moves beyond the constraints of traditional cinema, exploring philosophical reflections on life, history, and the transformative potential of film as a medium. The movie’s enigmatic narrative approach could be a challenge for those seeking a straightforward story. Nevertheless, for those open to experiencing a cinematic journey that defies standard storytelling structures, this film yields rich rewards.

In its essence, it is a cine-poem extending an enchanting invitation to rethink reality, memory, and the interconnectedness of lives and times that ripple beyond individual comprehension. The film leaves its traces long after its run time concludes, compelling its audience to ponder the often brushed-over complexities of life.