“Rivulet of Universe is an intriguing if somewhat frustrating experience.”

To the Western eye Southeast Asian cinema can sometimes be hard to grasp, with its Buddhist philosophies and its willingness to explore other planes of existence and the spiritual world. The films of Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul have a following among Western critics, but inevitably they can peel off only so many layers before being befuddled about the meaning of some of his concepts. His countryman Possathorn Watcharapanit unfolded his debut feature Rivulet of Universe in IFFR’s Bright Future section, and it is probably an even more difficult film to get a handle on. A tale of three people following in the footsteps of legends while their dynamic slowly drifts is not an easy sell, but Watcharapanit’s singular vision and a series of transfixing scenes make Rivulet of Universe a title to check out, if only for diehard fans of esoteric cinema.

Jit, a Cambodian middle-aged man, has the power to see across time. Wanting to explore his abilities he travels to the ancient Thai town of Phimai, once an important place in the Khmer empire. It is the location of a local legend about a love triangle between a king (Phommathat), a prince {Prajit}, and Orapim, the woman they love. Wandering the temple complex Jit meets Pim and Tat, a younger couple whose relationship is on the downslide. The trio is destined to relive the legend of old throughout the course of the film; the clue is already in their names. With Jit’s abilities their lives become a maelstrom of past, present, and future, in which Pim and Tat slowly drift apart (Jit means ‘spirit’, another dead giveaway that we are crossing time and space here). Ancient temples and modern museums stand side by side in a film of mystery and wonder. Those expecting a more or less straightforward narrative do not need to bother: Rivulet of Universe aims for something cosmic as it contemplates history, religion, and the true nature of one’s self.

Carried by an eclectic soundtrack that ranges from modern Western electronica to traditional Thai music, Rivulet of Universe is a film that you have to immerse yourself in rather than trying to make a rational analysis. While it takes some time to get going and get yourself attuned to it, a series of stunning long takes and some truly magical scenes capture the essence of what contemplative cinema truly is: a journey of self-discovery and a meditative experience. It’s almost impossible to explain what Rivulet of Universe is truly about, but its story, barebones as it may be, is a jump-off point for conversations between history and modern life, between ancient stories and the ennui of modernity; it is probably as close to ‘stream of consciousness’ cinema as one can get. It is probably too esoteric and ‘strange’, for lack of a better word, to make Watcharapanit the next Weerasethakul in terms of success, and exposure of the film will probably remain limited to the festival circuit, but Rivulet of Universe is an intriguing if somewhat frustrating experience.