Thai director Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke won top honours at the Cannes Film Festival’s Critics’ Week section on 22 May 2025 for his unconventional political comedy A Useful Ghost, a film blending satire, the supernatural, and commentary on Thailand’s political history.
Thai filmmaker Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke has been awarded the top prize in the Critics’ Week sidebar of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival for A Useful Ghost, a genre-bending political comedy that blends elements of satire and the supernatural. The film tells the story of a woman, played by popular actress and influencer Davika “Mai” Hoorne, who returns as a ghost residing in a vacuum cleaner to assist her grieving husband.
The narrative draws on the absurd to critique serious political themes, reflecting on Thailand’s history of political repression. At the centre of the film is a fictional government minister attempting to exorcise so-called “dissident spirits” from his home, a clear allegory for the state’s efforts to silence political opposition. Through humour and surrealism, the film explores how unsettling events are often figuratively and literally swept away.
Ratchapoom references past incidents such as the military crackdown on the Red Shirt protests in 2010, which left more than 90 civilians dead. Following the unrest, citywide cleanup efforts became symbolic of the attempt to erase collective trauma. The film also touches on the erasure of historical markers, such as trees used in executions being removed, adding further depth to the film’s political subtext.
Beyond its political satire, A Useful Ghost aims to expand the scope of queer storytelling in Thai cinema. According to the director, his intent was to infuse such narratives with political relevance, going beyond traditional romance plots to reflect broader societal concerns.
Davika Hoorne’s involvement adds significant public visibility to the project. Best known for her lead role in the box office hit Pee Mak, her participation in this politically charged film underlines the challenges faced by artists who engage with controversial themes in Thailand, where open criticism of the state remains sensitive.
The film’s premiere comes at a time of considerable political transition in Thailand. The return of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who remains a polarising figure, and recent legal advancements such as the recognition of same-sex marriage, illustrate a nation in flux. His daughter, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, now leads a country still reckoning with its complex past.
Thai PBS reported on the Cannes success, noting that A Useful Ghost not only represents a breakthrough in Thai filmmaking but also demonstrates how cinema can serve as a form of resistance and historical reflection.
