Tropical Malady 2005

As Keng (Banlop Lomnoi), a soldier stationed in rural Thailand, navigates his duties investigating the baffling slaughter of cattle at local farms, he finds himself drawn to Tong (Sakda Kaewbuadee), a charismatic villager whose paths they cross amidst the rustic landscape. Their initial encounter blossoms into a tender bond, as Keng becomes entwined in Tong’s life, assisting him at an ice factory and sharing moments of quiet contemplation.

One fateful evening, while cruising through the streets on an ice delivery truck, they stumble upon a bedraggled canine, its plight tugging at their heartstrings. A trip to the veterinarian yields a grim diagnosis: cancer. Yet, Tong’s compassion compels him to sign the necessary paperwork for chemotherapy, revealing the depth of his empathy. As the night wears on, they find themselves at a local cinema, surrendering to the magic of the silver screen.

Their camaraderie deepens as they stroll through a nearby cave, regaled by an elderly woman’s enchanting tale of two impoverished farmers who, guided by a wise young monk, unearth a trove of precious stones. However, their avarice ultimately leads to a shocking transformation: the silver and gold bars morph into frogs, serving as a poignant reminder of the perils of greed. As the sun dips below the horizon, Keng, Tong, and the woman’s friends linger in the cave’s tranquil atmosphere, basking in the warmth of each other’s company.

As the days unfold, their connection blossoms into a tender romance, with Keng and Tong embarking on whimsical motorcycle adventures through the village. One evening, as they pause at the roadside, their affection reaches a fever pitch, only for Tong to vanish into the darkness, leaving Keng bewildered and yearning.

When Keng’s troops depart the village, he is left to ponder the enigmatic events that have transpired. Weeks later, whispers begin to circulate about a mysterious force responsible for the cattle slaughters. As tensions mount, Keng finds himself dispatched on a solo mission to confront the malevolent spirit of a tiger shaman (Kaewbuadee). His trek into the woods is marked by an air of trepidation, as he trails the shaman’s pawprints and waits in vigil at a solitary tree.

As night descends, Keng awakens to find himself face-to-face with the shaman in human form. A fierce battle ensues, but ultimately, Keng finds himself bested, left battered and bruised at the bottom of a steep slope, his fate hanging precariously in the balance.

As the soldier’s gaze slowly focuses, he finds himself still clutching his firearm, but the devastating aftermath of the previous night’s destruction starkly contrasts with the eerie silence that now surrounds him. A primate, seemingly unfazed by the chaos, approaches and delivers an ominous warning: unless the soldier can vanquish the shaman, he will succumb to a gruesome fate, forever trapped in the mystical realm of the shaman’s ghost world.

As night begins to fall once more, the soldier’s ears prick up at the distant sounds of nature, prompting him to take aim with his gun. However, instead of finding the intended target, he is met with the lifeless body of a cow. The spirit of the bovine then rises from its mortal coil and ambles towards a radiant tree, as if drawn by some unseen force. As the soldier departs, the shaman (now transformed into a majestic tiger) sets forth in relentless pursuit.

The soldier’s struggles soon leave him bereft of his firearm, and he is forced to navigate the treacherous terrain on hands and knees. Eventually, his journey converges with that of the tiger shaman perched atop a towering tree. The two engage in an unsettling stalemate, their eyes locked in a silent understanding. With a profound declaration, the soldier offers up his very essence: “I surrender my spirit, my flesh, and my memories” – as a graphic representation of the tiger shaman absorbs him into its ethereal form.

The soldier’s gaze remains fixed on the tiger shaman as the wind begins to howl, imbuing the scene with an otherworldly tension.