A Useful Ghost
A wholly unique Thai film about a woman who returns after her death as a ghost in the form of a vacuum cleaner. Winner of the Grand Prize of the Critics’ Week in Cannes.
Coming from a country with a track record of strong horror films, A Useful Ghost might sound like just another entertaining Thai chiller. But the goosebumps delivered won’t be from scares. From ambitious and creative newcomer Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke comes a genre-smashing amalgamation of fantasy, horror, romance, comedy, art house and everything in between. It smartly plays with tones and social comments while revisiting classism and oppression throughout Thailand’s history.
After the death of an employee at a family-run appliance factory, a strange phenomenon occurs. Spirits are possessing their products. A forced closure by the authorities is imminent, but the coming of the ghosts ironically turns out to be good news for March, the son of the factory owner, who is deep in mourning following the dust-poisoning death of his pregnant wife Nat.
March is reunited with his beloved, who is now in the form of a vacuum cleaner. Changing the social conception of ghosts, Nat’s love makes her decide to be of service by getting rid of the useless ghosts. (source: www.tiff.net)