Courtesy of Reel Suspects.
Directed by Anucha Boonyawatana. Thailand 2017. Thai with English subtitles. 96 min.
Malila: The Farewell Flower tells the story of Shane, a handsome farmer, who reunites with his ex-boyfriend Pitch, a skilled craftsman of bai sri (elaborate floral ornaments made from jasmine and banana leaves), and who is dying of cancer. They try to heal the pain of their past by reviving their old romance through the fabrication of this traditional Thai object—its delicate decorations symbols for the blossoming and withering of life, a process reflected in the progression of Pitch’s illness. Seeking redemption for himself and Pitch, Shane decides to become a Buddhist monk forever.
Venue
San José Museum of Art
Wendel Education Center
110 S Market St, San José, CA 95113