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64th Critics' Week: Ava Cahen Presents A USEFUL GHOST by Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke

Gabriela Martínez

As part of the partnership between the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) and Critics’ Week at the Cannes Film Festival, which began in 2003, the 23rd FICM will present a selection of films that were screened at the 64th Critics’ Week.

Ava Cahen, Artistic Director of this parallel section of the Cannes Film Festival, was in charge of presenting the first film in the program: A Useful Ghost by Thai director Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke.

The winner of the AMI Paris Grand Prize at Critics' Week follows the tragic death of Nat as a result of dust pollution. March is consumed by grief, but his daily life is turned upside down when he discovers that his wife's spirit has been reincarnated in a vacuum cleaner. As absurd as it may seem, their bond is rekindled, stronger than ever. But not everyone is on board. His family, still haunted by the accidental death of a factory worker, rejects this supernatural relationship. To prove her love, Nat offers to clean the factory to show she's a useful ghost, even if it means taking out a few lost souls.

“This is the first time in the history of Critics' Week that a Thai film has been featured. It's a film that really impressed not only us, but also the president of the jury, Rodrigo Sorogoyen. He awarded it this prize, which would be the equivalent of the Palme d'Or, so to speak, at Critics' Week,” Ava Cahen said. 

"The proposal is crazy, and the film totally lives up to its promise. Always surprising, always relevant. The director stylishly and humorously dusts off all the codes of ghost movies and the structure of oriental tales, and does not hesitate to mix genres. He offers a profound reflection on class struggle and gender struggle. It's an absolutely crazy movie, you could say, but also absolutely enjoyable," she concluded.