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A neophyte filmmaker interviews an older woman about a legendary Thai student uprising, which then somehow segues into digressions on the nature of performance, a brief how-to about tobacco harvesting, and lots of cool shots of mushrooms. By the Time It Gets Dark makes more sense when you’re watching it. Honest. There’s a lot to unpack, certainly, but writer/director Anocha Suwichakornpong’s WTF tone poem of a film casts a bewitching spell, even/especially as it periodically reinvents itself. Intriguing and severely beautiful throughout, even during those moments when it seems like logic has taken a flyer. Trailer and showtime info after the jump.

SIFF is happening now through June 11. By the Time It Gets Dark screens tonight at Pacific Place (showtimes here). Check out more recommended SIFF films here; and all SIFF films here.