Invisible Waves (2006)

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

Colour:

Colour

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Bangkok, Thailand

Company:

Dedicate Ltd.

Trivia:

Thailand's official selection for 2007 Oscar Foreign Movie entry.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

References The Shining (1980)

Don't miss the point.

Reading through the reviews on this page all I can say to myself is how they have throughly missed the point. The movie is slow, very slow, but I still sat there and watched it. It's supposed to be slow, it's supposed to have a minimal script.

Throughout the entire movie I couldn't stop thinking about it. The speed of the movie really pulled me into the mood of the main character, and it worked.

One of the other reviewers talked about shotty production values, I completely disagree. The movie is supposed to be sketchy and ugly, its not meant to be pretty. Although I think the sketchy aspect of it is the beauty of it.

The camera work is perfect for the feeling I think the director was going for.

The reason I think this film is getting less-than-favourable reviews is that this isn't what people are expecting when they go into it. When someone hears "japanese contract killer" you don't think of a slow-paced gray drama. I went into this film expecting nothing (as I do with all Film Festival movies) and came out silent, my mind racing.

Don't see it if your expecting an action movie, see it if you are in the mood for a slow-paced interesting drama of a mans life.