Watch Pop Aye

"Pop Aye" is a beautifully crafted film that explores the themes of loneliness, displacement, and the human-animal bond in a touching way that will leave you breathless. Directed by Kirsten Tan, the film is a heartwarming tale of one man's journey to reunite with his beloved pet elephant. The story follows Thana (Thaneth Warakulnukroh), an aging architect living in Bangkok. He is disillusioned with his life, his career, and his relationship with his wife, and he spends his days feeling lonely and disconnected from the world around him. One day, while wandering the streets of Bangkok, he comes across an elephant that he recognizes as Pop Aye, the elephant that he grew up with in his hometown. Overwhelmed with emotion, Thana decides to embark on a journey to reunite with the elephant and take him back to their hometown in the countryside.

As Thana and Pop Aye make their way across the country, they encounter a colorful cast of characters - a transgender sex worker, an old friend, and a sketchy elephant trader. Through these encounters, Thana begins to rediscover the beauty of the world around him and the importance of human connection. He also begins to understand the depth of the relationship between humans and animals.

The central relationship between Thana and Pop Aye is truly the heart of this film. The two are inseparable, with Thana doting on the elephant and the elephant providing a sense of comfort and companionship to his owner. While the relationship may seem odd at first, it is a testament to the power of love and the unconventional ways in which it manifests.

The cinematography in this film is absolutely stunning. The scenes of the Thai countryside are breathtaking, and the juxtaposition of the natural beauty with the gritty urban landscapes of Bangkok is striking. The film is also beautifully shot, with a dreamy quality to the visuals that adds to the sense of magic and wonder.

"Pop Aye" also explores themes of displacement and the tension between tradition and modernity. Thana is a man caught between two worlds - the world of his childhood and the world of his adult life. Through his journey with Pop Aye, he is forced to confront the changes that have occurred in his homeland and the impact that these changes have had on his sense of identity.

Overall, "Pop Aye" is a beautiful, moving film that captivates its audience with its touching portrayal of the human-animal connection. This is a film that will stay with you long after you've finished watching it, and is definitely worth seeking out.

Pop Aye is a 2017 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 44 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6 and a MetaScore of 73.