Film is art so let’s exhibit it like art seems to be the approach, with this rather singular release strategy for the upcoming Memoria.
What happens when you cross an Oscar-winning actor with a Palme d’Or-winning director? Well, we’re not quite sure actually.
The enigmatic trailer for Memoria landed back in July and we’re still trying to figure out what it’s all about. Memoria stars Tilda Swinton and is directed by acclaimed Thai helmer, Apichatpong Weerasethakul. Both creatives are critically-acclaimed, with Swinton winning an Oscar for her performance in 2007’s Michael Clayton, whilst Weerasethakul was awarded the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2010 for Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives.
We do know that ‘Memoria follows Swinton as a Scottish woman in Colombia who hears a loud bang at daybreak and subsequently begins to experience a mysterious sensory syndrome during her travels.’
We also now know that the film is set to embrace one of the more unique release strategies that we’ve ever heard of. It will travel from city to city, for a one week engagement at a time, being shown on only one screen. Furthermore, there are no plans to release it on home formats or streaming services. Should audiences wish to see it, they must travel to see the one version of it that exists, much like a piece of art.
The tale the film is based upon is said to be semi-autobiographical, with Weerasethakul stating that “while researching, I often heard a loud noise at dawn. It was internal and has occurred in many of the places I visited. This symptom is inseparable from my exposure to Colombia. It has formed the basis of a character whose audio experience synchronises with the country’s memory”.
There’s no UK release date as yet for the film and the release strategy means we may never even see it in this country. Memoria's first week-long engagement begins at the IFC Centre in New York on the 26th December. Enjoy the trailer below, because that’s all you’ll be seeing of the film for some time, it seems.
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