a subline film made and released at a time when most moviegoer`s are losing their faculties of sitting through something gentle, subtle and moving. weerasethakul starts in on the dawning romance between a solider and a village country boy, and switches halfway to the solider in pursuit of a mythic jungle beast that is killing the cattle and villagers. the solider alone in the jungle occasionally spies the beast ,at times the village boy with tiger stripes tatooes, at times a tiger itself (on all fours on a tree!!!), and the solider`s ordeal is to face up to this beast and surrender. the beast in turn is fascinated by the solider. a connection is hinted here between the two halves, when the beast and man come face to face. the happiness, or relief even, for each to surrender to the other what each wants. being in love twinned with a presentiment of loss.for the viewer it hints at what exists around his reality- a spirit world, barely acknowledged, but with the power nevertheless, to set one trembling, if allowed in. now that the dvd is out there can be no excure to miss out on a masterpiece. there is the director`s commentary as an extra and a few deleted scence, and the transfer is excellent.lets hope weerasethakul`s films now become as eagerly anticipated as wong kar wai`s.

Review Submitted by: george cherian