BANGKOK–Apichatpong Weeresethakul may have been playing a role when he described himself as “a nobody from a small country” while accepting the Jury Prize this year at the Cannes International Film Festival.
In person, shaven-headed and t-shirted, Mr. Apichatpong exudes serene self-confidence: This isn’t a man who thinks of himself as a nobody. He hasn’t kept up with the festival bookings for “Tropical Malady” and seems only mildly curious to hear of the latest gushing reviews from US critics.
Besides, nobodies aren’t so busy. The 34-year-old Mr. Apichatpong is now on a three-week, five-city U.S. tour to present his short videos and three feature films at museums and arts centers. He’ll return to Asia in time to talk about “Tropical Malady” at the Tokyo Filmex Festival Nov. 23. When he gets back home to Bangkok the next day, he’ll start work on an experimental DVD film for South Korea’s Jeonju International Film Festival in April.
Susan J Cunningham 